Joe Warren (fighter)

Joseph Ryan Warren
Born (1976-10-13) October 13, 1976
Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
Other names The Baddest Man on the Planet
Residence Denver, Colorado
Nationality American
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Weight 135 lb (61 kg)
Division Bantamweight
Featherweight
Reach 69.0 inches (1.75 m)[1]
Style Greco-Roman Wrestling, Boxing
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Denver, Colorado
Team Team Quest
Team Rhino Sports
Wrestling NCAA Division I Wrestling
Years active 2009–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 17
Wins 13
By knockout 3
By submission 1
By decision 9
Losses 4
By knockout 2
By submission 2
University University of Michigan
Spouse Christy Cech Warren
Children 2
Notable club(s) The New York Athletic Club
Notable school(s) East Kentwood High School
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Joe Warren
Medal record
Competitor for  United States
Men's Greco-Roman wrestling
World Championships
2006 Guangzhou -60 kg
World Cup
2007 Antalya -60 kg
Pan American Championships
2006 Rio de Janeiro -60 kg
United States Championships
2007 Las Vegas -60 kg
2006 Las Vegas -60 kg
2005 Las Vegas -60 kg
2004 Las Vegas -60 kg

Joe Warren (born October 31, 1976) is an American Greco-Roman wrestler and mixed martial artist.[2] As a Greco-Roman wrestler, he won the 2006 Pan American and World Championship and was a favourite for the 2008 Olympics. He later participated in and won the 2007 World Cup.

During the end of 2008 Warren started transitioning to mixed martial arts, and on March 8, 2009, he made his professional debut. He has competed for Bellator MMA, and Dream in Japan. He is a former Bellator Bantamweight Champion and former Bellator Featherweight Champion. Warren is currently ranked as the #7 Bantamweight in the world and as the #2 Bantamweight outside of the UFC by fightmatrix.com.[3]

Greco-Roman wrestling career

Warren practiced freestyle wrestling before switching to Greco-Roman.[4] He began his career at East Kentwood High School where he placed 3 times in Division one with one state championship coming during his senior year and held the national takedown record. He wrestled for the University of Michigan.[4]

He won the 60 kilograms (130 lb) division of men's Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2006 FILA Wrestling World Championships and was a favorite for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Warren, however, missed the Olympics after testing positive for marijuana, resulting in a two-year suspension.[5]

Other accomplishments include 6th at the 2000 World University Championship at 63 kilograms (139 lb), 9th at the 2005 FILA Wrestling World Championships, 1st at the 2006 Pan American Championship and 1st at the 2007 World Cup all at 60 kg.[6]

On December 18, 2010, it was reported that Warren would be making a return to wrestling, to try to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.[7] This did not occur.

Mixed martial arts career

DREAM

Joe Warren started a transition to MMA in 2008 and joined up with Team Quest where he got to train with fellow Greco-Roman wrestler and Pride Fighting Championship Champion Dan Henderson.[8] His MMA debut was on March 8, 2009, at Dream.7, where he defeated former WEC Bantamweight Champion Chase Beebe by TKO (doctor stoppage) after the first round due to a cut Beebe received over his right eye.[9] In the second round of the tournament, at Dream.9 on May 26, 2009, he was matched up with and defeated former K-1 Hero's Lightweight Grand Prix Champion, and formerly 17–1,[10] Norifumi Yamamoto in his first fight after a 512-day layoff officially due to elbow and knee injuries.[4][11] In preparation for the bout Warren trained with former WEC Featherweight Champion Urijah Faber and his Team Alpha Male after Faber called Warren and told him he knew how to defeat Yamamoto.[4] Faber had previously prepared Joseph Benavidez to fight Yamamoto in July 2008, but the fight did not happen as Yamamoto pulled out three days before the fight. Warren's fight happened as planned though, and after going the allotted 15 minutes Warren was awarded a split decision victory.[11][12]

The final two rounds of the tournament took place at Dream 11 which took place on October 6, 2009. In his scheduled semi-final bout Warren fought Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert Bibiano Fernandes,[13] where he quickly lost due to a controversial first-round armbar after securing a takedown.

Bellator Fighting Championships

On February 1, 2010, Warren officially announced that he signed with Bellator Fighting Championships, and that he would compete in the Featherweight tournament during Bellator's Season 2.

At Bellator 13, Warren fought in a quarter-final bout against Eric Marriott. Warren dominated the fight with his wrestling and took the fight on all three judges score cards, giving him the unanimous decision win. Warren advanced to the semi-final round where he defeated Georgi Karakhanyan via unanimous decision at Bellator 18.

On June 24, 2010, Warren won the Bellator featherweight tournament by claiming a split-decision over Patricio Freire. Joe was both dropped and caught in a rear-naked choke in the first round. He came back in rounds 2 and 3 by scoring takedowns followed by a ground and pound attack. The official scores were (29–28), (28–29), and (29–28). After the fight, Bellator Fighting Championships Featherweight Champion Joe Soto came into the ring and the two exchanged words, with Warren telling Soto "you've got my belt" and Soto promising to hold onto the title.

The title fight took place on September 2, 2010 at Bellator 27 in the third season of Bellator Fighting Championships. This was Warren's first title shot. Following a dominant opening round by Soto, Warren won the fight via KO (strikes) in the opening minute of the second round to become the new Bellator Featherweight champion.

Warren faced Marcos Galvão in a non-title fight on April 16, 2011 at Bellator 41. In the fight Galvão negated a majority of Warren's offense for the first two rounds by showing strong takedown defense, taking down Warren multiple times, taking Warren's back, and executing good knees from the clinch. In the third round he was taken down by Warren and controlled throughout the round. At the end of the fight, Bellator color commentator, Jimmy Smith, believed Galvão won the fight 29–28. Along with Smith, many top MMA sites, (MMAJunkie, Sherdog, MMAFighting, MMASpot), all believed that Galvão won the fight by 29–28. It was then announced that Warren had won the fight via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 29–28).[14]

Warren was expected to put his title on the line versus Patricio Freire at Bellator 47 on July 23, 2011, but had to be postponed due to Pitbull's unexpected injury.[15]

In the fall of 2011, Warren was entered the Bellator Season 5 bantamweight tournament. He was hoping to become the promotion's first two division champion.[16] Warren faced fellow amateur wrestling world champion, Alexis Vila, at Bellator 51, in the quarterfinal round of Bellator's season five bantamweight tournament.[17] He lost the fight via KO in the first round.

Warren fought Pat Curran on March 9, 2012 at Bellator 60 in the first defense of his Bellator Featherweight Championship.[18] He lost the fight via KO in the third round, which many believed to be an obviously late stoppage.

After losing the title, Warren returned and faced Owen Evinger on November 9, 2012 at Bellator 80. He won the fight via unanimous decision.[19]

On February 5, 2013, it was announced that Warren would be one of the four coaches to appear on the promotion's reality series titled Fight Master: Bellator MMA.[20]

Joe Warren was set to fight Nick Kirk at Bellator 98 in the semifinal match of Bellator season nine bantamweight tournament, however he was not cleared to fight because he was knocked out in a sparring session prior to the fight. The fight was then rescheduled for Bellator 101 on September 27, 2013.[21] Warren won via submission in the second round.[22]

Warren faced Travis Marx in the finals on November 8, 2013 at Bellator 107.[23] He won via TKO in the second round to win the Bellator season nine Bantamweight tournament.

Warren was scheduled to face Bellator Bantamweight champion Eduardo Dantas at Bellator 118. However, on April 26, 2014 it was revealed that Dantas was injured head and withdrew from the fight. Warren was to face Rafael Silva in an Interim Bantamweight title fight. Silva, however, missed weight and the promotion made the interim title available only if Warren were to win.[24] Warren won the fight via unanimous decision to become the Bellator Interim Bantamweight champion.

Warren faced Eduardo Dantas in a title unification bout on October 10, 2014 at Bellator 128.[25] He won the fight via unanimous decision to become the undisputed Bellator Bantamweight Champion.

Warren made his first title defense against Marcos Galvão in a rematch on March 27, 2015 at Bellator 135.[26] He lost the fight and the title via verbal submission due to a kneebar in the second round.

Warren faced WEC and Bellator veteran L.C. Davis in the main event of Bellator 143 on September 25, 2015.[27] He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Personal life

Warren and his wife have a son who was born July 5, 2008 [4] and a girl, Maddox Reese Warren, who was born March 4, 2010.[28]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Professional wrestling

Amateur wrestling

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 13–4 L.C. Davis Decision (Unanimous) Bellator 143 September 25, 2015 3 5:00 Hidalgo, Texas, United States
Loss 12–4 Marcos Galvão Verbal Submission (kneebar) Bellator 135 March 27, 2015 2 0:45 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Lost Bellator Bantamweight Championship.
Win 12–3 Eduardo Dantas Decision (unanimous) Bellator 128 October 10, 2014 5 5:00 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Won and Unified Bellator Bantamweight Championship.
Win 11–3 Rafael Silva Decision (unanimous) Bellator 118 May 2, 2014 5 5:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Won Interim Bellator Bantamweight Championship.
Win 10–3 Travis Marx TKO (knee and punches) Bellator 107 November 8, 2013 2 1:54 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Bellator Season 9 Bantamweight Tournament Final
Win 9–3 Nick Kirk Submission (reverse triangle armbar) Bellator 101 September 27, 2013 2 3:03 Portland, Oregon, United States Bellator Season 9 Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal
Win 8–3 Owen Evinger Decision (unanimous) Bellator 80 November 9, 2012 3 5:00 Hollywood, Florida, United States
Loss 7–3 Pat Curran KO (punches) Bellator 60 March 9, 2012 3 1:25 Hammond, Indiana, United States Lost Bellator Featherweight Championship.
Loss 7–2 Alexis Vila KO (punch) Bellator 51 September 24, 2011 1 1:04 Canton, Ohio, United States Bellator Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal
Win 7–1 Marcos Galvão Decision (unanimous) Bellator 41 April 16, 2011 3 5:00 Yuma, Arizona, United States Non-title bout; Galvão missed weight (catchweight 147 lbs).
Win 6–1 Joe Soto KO (knee and punches) Bellator 27 September 2, 2010 2 0:33 San Antonio, Texas, United States Won Bellator Featherweight Championship
Win 5–1 Patricio Freire Decision (split) Bellator 23 June 24, 2010 3 5:00 Louisville, Kentucky, United States Bellator Season 2 Featherweight Tournament Final
Win 4–1 Georgi Karakhanyan Decision (unanimous) Bellator 18 May 13, 2010 3 5:00 Monroe, Louisiana, United States Bellator Season 2 Featherweight Tournament Semifinal
Win 3–1 Eric Marriott Decision (unanimous) Bellator 13 Apr 8, 2010 3 5:00 Hollywood, Florida, United States Bellator Season 2 Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal
Loss 2–1 Bibiano Fernandes Submission (armbar) Dream 11 Oct 6, 2009 1 0:42 Yokohama, Japan Dream 2009 Featherweight Grand Prix Semifinal
Win 2–0 Norifumi Yamamoto Decision (split) Dream 9 May 26, 2009 2 5:00 Yokohama, Japan Dream 2009 Featherweight Grand Prix Quarterfinal
Win 1–0 Chase Beebe TKO (doctor stoppage) Dream 7 March 8, 2009 1 10:00 Saitama, Saitama, Japan Dream 2009 Featherweight Grand Prix Opening Round

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Joe Warren's profile". Tapology.com. Retrieved 2013-11-13.
  2. ↑ "Sherdog Fight Finder". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
  3. ↑ "Fight Matrix | Current MMA Rankings » Bantamweight". fightmatrix.com. April 13, 2014. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Joe Warren & Tyron Woodley". The Jordan Breen Show. Episode 180. May 21, 2009.
  5. ↑ "Top American wrestler Warren to miss Olympics after 2nd positive test". Retrieved 2015-08-16.
  6. ↑ "International Wrestling Database". Retrieved 2009-05-22.
  7. ↑ Morgan, John. (2010-12-18) Bellator champ Joe Warren returning to Greco-Roman roots, eyes Olympic gold. MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved on 2011-11-23.
  8. ↑ "Profile on DreamOfficial.com" (in Japanese). DreamOfficial.com. Retrieved 2009-05-22.
  9. ↑ "Dream 7 Play-by-Play". Sherdog.com. 2009-03-08. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
  10. ↑ "Sherdog Fight Finder – Norifumi Yamamoto". Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  11. 1 2 "Warren pulls off the shocker over the 'Kid'". Yahoo! Sports. 2009-05-26. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  12. ↑ Loiseleur, Tony (2009-05-27). "Warren Upsets 'Kid' at Dream 9". Retrieved 2009-05-27.
  13. ↑ "Joe Warren and Mike Easton". The Jordan Breen Show. Episode 215. October 1, 2009.
  14. ↑ "Bellator 41 results: Warren wins heated decision". mmajunkie.com. 2011-04-16.
  15. ↑ "Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Injured; Bellator 47 Title Fight Postponed". sherdog.com. 2011-07-05.
  16. ↑ "Joe Warren vs. Patricio Pitbull at Bellator 47; Warren Shooting for Two Titles". MMAWeekly.com. 2011-05-24.
  17. ↑ "Bellator Sets Season 5 Bantamweight Quarterfinals for Sept. 24". Sherdog.com. 2011-06-28.
  18. ↑ "theScore and Bellator Announce Expanded Programming Partnership". Sherdog.com. 2012-02-03.
  19. ↑ Steven Marrocco (November 10, 2012). "Bellator 80 results: Warren rolls; Volkov, Martinez advance to tournament finals". mmajunkie.com.
  20. ↑ "Bellator's 'Fight Master' reality series set for summer debut on Spike TV". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  21. ↑ Mike Whitman (2013-09-21). "Joe Warren-Nick Kirk bantamweight semifinal rescheduled for Bellator 101 in Portland". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
  22. ↑ Brian Knapp (2013-09-27). "Joe Warren armbar submits Nick Kirk in bantamweight semifinal at Bellator 101". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
  23. ↑ Press release (2013-10-30). "Bellator 107: Cheick Kongo vs. Peter Graham and Joe Warren vs. Travis Marx set for Nov. 8". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
  24. ↑ "Bellator 118 official weigh-in results: Silva heavy for interim title fight".
  25. ↑ "Eduardo Dantas vs. Joe Warren title fight headlines Bellator 128". mmafighting.com. September 8, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Bellator 135 Fight Card". bellator.com.
  27. ↑ "Bellator 143 Official With Joe Warren Vs. L.C. Davis In Main Event". fightline.com. August 12, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Q&A: Joe Warren". USATODAY.com. 2009-09-30. Retrieved 2010-02-06.

External links

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