After dropping back-to-back fights to Stefan Struve (majority decision) and Cheick Kongo (TKO) since making his UFC return, Paul "The Headhunter" Buentello has been released by the promotion. News of Buentello's release was first reported earlier today by Five Ounces of Pain. Buentello had rejoined the promotion following the demise of Affliction Entertainment, who Buentello had fought twice for previously.

Buentello had won both of his fights in Affliction over Gary Goodridge and Kiril Sidelnikov and went 5-1 outside of the UFC with his only loss in that span coming in November of 2007 to Alistair Overeem in a bout for the Strikeforce Heavyweight Championship. The two losses in his current UFC run dropped his overall record in the Octagon to 3-3.

Following his loss to Kongo, there had been talk that Buentello was considering retirement and if he's not able to get some interest from Strikeforce or one of the other regional promotions, it's not unreasonable to think that he will go through with those plans.