Darrion Caldwell and Joe Warren
Bantamweight Darrion Caldwell has all the tools for a long and successful career. If his most recent performance is any indication of what’s to come, that’s exactly what he’ll have.
Caldwell (9-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) came up large in the biggest fight of his career when he throttled Joe Warren (13-5 MMA, 11-4 BMMA) for a first-round submission victory in Bellator 151’s main event. “The Wolf” left his opponent no chance when he tossed Warren around the cage and finished with a tight rear-naked choke.
With nine consecutive victories to his credit, including six-straight under the Bellator banner, Caldwell said he’s ready for the ultimate step up. He wants a chance to challenge 135-pound titleholder Marcos Galvao (17-6 MMA, 7-3 BMMA).
“I do feel like I’m the guy up next – I don’t think there’s a fight that makes more sense than myself coming in vs. the champ,” Caldwell told MMAjunkie Radio. “That’d be ideal. I think the world’s waiting for a face at 135 and I’m the guy. ”
Caldwell, 28, believes he has what it takes to be a bantamweight superstar. His undefeated record has hardly been tested to this point and he said his fighting style is attractive to fans. He showed off an example of that with a vicious overhead suplex on Warren before he ended the contest with the choke.
He said he could do even better, though.
“Whatever opens up, opens up,” Caldwell said. “I felt like he slightly opened up his hips over the course of that fight and I was able to take position. One of my goals is definitely to get a KO knockout slam. That would be crazy. … That would be sick to knock somebody out with a slam.”
So long as Caldwell continues to win in impressive fashion, the rest of his career should fall in line. The fans, popularity and championship opportunities will come, but there’s no guarantee it will be under the Bellator banner.
Caldwell said he has just one fight remaining on his current Bellator contract. He envisions remaining true to the company that helped him reach his current status, but if they don’t commit to a new deal before his current one runs out, there’s no telling what potential suitors free agency might bring.
“Bellator does a good job with making sure that fighters are happy, I don’t feel like this case is going to be any different with me coming to an ending point in my term. …I love Bellator. My heart’s grown fonder and fonder the more I’ve been with them,” Caldwell said. “If the opportunity comes where I can marry Bellator and make things happen, then that’s what it’s going to be. I love Bellator. They’ve given me a lot of opportunities so it’s a place I would like to see.
“I’m just planning on sitting back and waiting for everything to unfold. Right now it’s too early to say. We’ll see what happens. But I do know that I’m going to be the guy at 135, the face at 135. Hopefully Bellator is taking notice and want to get behind me and ultimately marry me.”
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