[UFC]: messo sotto contratto il prospetto dei pesi welter Charlie Brenneman

Charlie Brenneman, one of the top welterweight prospects on the East Coast, has agreed to a four-fight contract with the UFC, his camp informed Sherdog.com on Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Based out the same AMA Fight Club that produced Frankie Edgar and former International Fight League middleweight champion Dan Miller, Brenneman has rattled off six consecutive victories, five of them finishes. He suffered his only career defeat in a unanimous decision loss to John Howard at Ring of Combat 21 in September 2006.

Brenneman last competed on Jan. 30, when stopped George Sheppard on second-round strikes at Valley Fight League “Mason Dixon Showdown 2.” The 29-year-old finished Sheppard 1:14 into the second round. A collegiate All-American wrestler, Sheppard provided a stern test for Brenneman. However, the Ring of Combat veteran’s persistence in pursuing takedowns ultimately paid off. Brenneman scored with leg kicks, knees from the clinch and slams and took charge early in the fight. He opened the second round with a powerful slam and mounted Sheppard, stopping him with ground strikes from the top position.

A decorated collegian, Brenneman has long possessed the base he needs to succeed in mixed martial arts. Wrestling since grade school, he attended Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania, where he nearly achieved All-American status and capped his career in 2004 with a top 12 finish in nationals.