Dan Hornbuckle
Introduction '''Dan Hornbuckle''' (born December 26, 1980) is a former American mixed martial artist and a citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. A professional since 2006, Hornbuckle has competed for Bellator, Legacy FC, World Victory Road, and DEEP.
Background Hornbuckle was born in Mahomet, Illinois, and attended Centennial High School where he competed in wrestling and football. Growing up, he faced adversity being Native American, and was often the victim of racism. He began mixed martial arts when he was 24 years old.
Mixed martial arts career When he first began fighting, Hornbuckle weighed 215 pounds and received his nickname due to the way he dominated his opponents with very little technique but using his strength and toughness. In the early part of his career, Hornbuckle went 19–2 with significant knockout wins against Akihiro Gono and Nick Thompson in Sengoku. These two wins brought his name to international prominence and launched his career in 2009.On December 17, 2009 Bellator announced the signing of Hornbuckle to a multi-fight Welterweight tournament contract.At Bellator 15, Hornbuckle defeated Tyler Stinson via first round triangle choke to advance to the semifinals of the Bellator Welterweight Tournament. He then defeated Steve Carl via submission (kimura) at Bellator 19 to advance to the finals of the Bellator Welterweight Tournament. This victory was a candidate for 2010 submission of the year. In the finals, Hornbuckle fought Olympic wrestler, Ben Askren. The fight took place at Bellator 22 on June 17, at the Kansas City Power and Light District in Kansas City, Mo., with Askren winning by unanimous decision. The fight saw Askren implement a dominant top game on the ground that stifled Hornbuckle's bottom game. Hornbuckle made his return to Bellator against former UFC Welterweight Brad Blackburn at Bellator 25 on August 19, 2010.He won the fight via unanimous decision in what was largely a three-round kickboxing battle. Despite being knocked down in the first round, Hornbuckle recovered and won the next two rounds to win a unanimous decision.Hornbuckle then participated in the Bellator Season Four Welterweight Tournament. In his opening round fight against Brent Weedman at Bellator 35, Hornbuckle lost a unanimous decision, 29–28 on all three judges scorecards. The fight was notably close and the decision was booed by the crowd after being announced. He was scheduled to fight former Bellator Welterweight Champion Lyman Good at Bellator 44, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. However, a hamstring injury forced Lyman Good off the card, and the bout was scrapped. Hornbuckle entered into the Bellator Season Five Welterweight Tournament. He fought Luis Santos in the opening round held at Bellator 49 and lost the fight via unanimous decision.After losing two consecutive fights in Bellator, Hornbuckle was released from the promotion along with Wilson Reis.Over a year later, Hornbuckle returned to MMA competition against Pete Spratt on February 1, 2013 at Legacy FC 17.He won the fight via unanimous decision. Hornbuckle then challenged Yuya Shirai for his DEEP Welterweight Championship on April 26, 2013 at DEEP: Impact 62.He won the fight and the title via unanimous decision. In his next outing, Hornbuckle dropped a majority decision to Dennis Hallman on August 30, 2013 at Titan FC 26.He put his DEEP Welterweight Championship on the line against Ryo Chonan at DEEP: Tribe Tokyo Fight on October 20, 2013.He lost the title via unanimous decision. Hornbuckle then faced Dominique Steele at Driven MMA: One on March 1, 2014.Hornbuckle lost the bout via unanimous decision. Hornbuckle faced Roger Carroll at FTP: Fight Time in the Valley on August 9, 2014.He lost the fight via submission in the first round, suffering his fourth consecutive loss.
Personal life In addition to being a professional mixed martial artist, Hornbuckle works as a fire suppression system installer. He is married and has three daughters. Hornbuckle opened his own academy, American Top Team WarHawks, in Mahomet, Illinois.
Championships and accomplishments *'''Bellator MMA'''**Bellator Season Two Welterweight Tournament Runner Up*'''DEEP'''**DEEP Welterweight Championship (One time)
Mixed martial arts record  Win 26–9 Dan Stittgen TKO (retirement) Caged Aggression 35: The Trilogy Night 2 15:00 Davenport, Iowa, United States Win 25–9 Jacon Luock KO (punch) Caged Aggression 24: Champions Night 2  2 3:37 San Antonio, Texas, United StatesWon the CAMMA Welterweight Championship. Loss 24–9 Roger Carroll Submission (choke) FTP: Fight Time in the Valley  1 4:37 Marble, North Carolina, United States  Loss 24–8 Dominique Steele Decision (unanimous) Driven MMA: One  3 5:00 Canton, Ohio, United States  Loss 24–7 Ryo Chonan Decision (unanimous) DEEP: Tribe Tokyo Fight  3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan Lost the DEEP Welterweight Championship. Loss 24–6 Dennis Hallman Decision (majority) Titan FC 26  3 5:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United States  Win 24–5 Yuya Shirai Decision (unanimous) DEEP: Impact 62  3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan  Win 23–5 Pete Spratt Decision (unanimous) Legacy FC 17  3 5:00 San Antonio, Texas, United States  Loss 22–5 Luis Santos Decision (unanimous) Bellator 49  3 5:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal. Loss 22–4 Brent Weedman Decision (unanimous) Bellator 35  3 5:00 Lemoore, California, United States Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal. Win 22–3 Brad Blackburn Decision (unanimous) Bellator 25  3 5:00 Chicago, Illinois, United States  Loss 21–3 Ben Askren Decision (unanimous) Bellator 22  3 5:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United States Welterweight Tournament Final. Win 21–2 Steve Carl Submission (kimura) Bellator 19  1 2:31 Grand Prairie, Texas, United States Welterweight Tournament Semifinal. Win 20–2 Tyler Stinson Submission (triangle choke) Bellator 15  1 2:03 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal. Win 19–2 Nick Thompson TKO (punches) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 10  2 1:30 Saitama, Saitama, Japan  Win 18–2 Akihiro Gono KO (head kick) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 9  3 2:50 Saitama, Saitama, Japan  Win 17–2 Joe Alexander KO (punches) TFC: Hornbuckle vs. Alexander  1 0:46 Hammond, Indiana, United States  Win 16–2 Nabil Khatib Submission (rear-naked choke) Raw Combat: Resurrection  1 3:58 Calgary, Alberta, Canada  Loss 15–2 Mike Pyle Submission (triangle choke) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 2  1 4:52 Tokyo, Japan  Win 15–1 Andrew Buckland Submission (armbar) HCF: Crow's Nest  1 3:34 Gatineau, Quebec, Canada  Win 14–1 Courtney Ray Submission (armbar) HOOKnSHOOT: BODOGFight Women's Tournament  1 1:25 Evansville, Indiana, United States  Win 13–1 Piotr Jakaczynski KO (head kick) BodogFIGHT: Vancouver  1 1:53 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada  Win 12–1 Matt Shaw Submission (arm-triangle choke) Total Fight Challenge 8  2 2:53 Hammond, Indiana, United States  Win 11–1 Courtney Ray TKO (punches) HOOKnSHOOT: Live  1 2:49 Evansville, Indiana, United States  Win 10–1 Jamie Toney Decision (unanimous) HOOKnSHOOT: Live  3 5:00 Evansville, Indiana, United States  Win 9–1 Wayne Bogard Submission (armbar) HOOKnSHOOT: Live  1 2:34 Evansville, Indiana, United States  Win 8–1 Alex Carter Submission (arm-triangle choke) Total Fight Challenge 7  1 0:35 Hammond, Indiana, United States  Win 7–1 Brent Weedman Submission (triangle choke) LOF 12: Black Tie Battles  2 3:31 Indianapolis, Indiana, United States  Win 6–1 Max Fowler Submission (verbal) CFC 1: Explosion  1 0:30 Tinley Park, Illinois, United States  Win 5–1 Wayne Bogard Submission (arm-triangle choke) IHC 11: Apocalypse  1 0:36 Hammond, Indiana, United States  Win 4–1 Justin Wilcox TKO (punches) Total Fight Challenge 6  1 1:20 Hammond, Indiana, United States  Win 3–1 Andy Normington KO (punches) Madtown Throwdown 8  N/A N/A Madison, Wisconsin, United States  Loss 2–1 Nate Homme Submission (triangle choke) Madtown Throwdown 8  N/A N/A Madison, Wisconsin, United States  Win 2–0 Steve Conley TKO (punches) Duneland Classic 4  1 N/A Portage, Indiana, United States  Win 1–0 Mike Bodziak TKO (punches) Total Fight Challenge 5  1 N/A Hammond, Indiana, United States
References
External links **