Featherweight Darrion Caldwell - "It’s a dream of mine to be in an organization like Bellator"
Former Collegiate Wrestling National Champion & Recently Signed Featherweight, Darrion Caldwell, Makes His Debut Tomorrow Night on Spike.com!
In late November, it was announced that Bellator had signed Darrion Caldwell to a long term promotional agreement to compete in the featherweight division, and he will make his debut on Friday night at Bellator 112 against Lance Surma. Caldwell is the latest former college wrestler to be signed by Bellator MMA as he competed at North Carolina State University. He was a 2009 National Champion, 2008 All-American, and 2007, 2008, and 2009 ACC champion. His most notable college wrestling victory came when he broke Brent Metcalf’s 69 match winning streak. While in college, Caldwell viewed a mixed martial arts fight for the first time on television. It had such an impact on him that he decided he would transition into mixed martial arts once his collegiate career was over.
“I used to watch it a little bit in college and seeing those guys walk out and going into the cage and battling was definitely a feeling that I wanted to feel,” Caldwell said. “I knew in college that in the back of my mind after wrestling I was going to jump into the cage.”
His professional debut came in September of 2012 in which he earned a decision victory. Following another two victories, Caldwell received a call from Bellator MMA and immediately jumped at the opportunity to fight for the organization. One of the main reasons that intrigued him about coming to Bellator was the tournament format, where “title shots are earned and not given.”
“The tournament format is awesome and I feel like it drew me even more,” he said. “Bellator as an organization is just unbelievable. It’s a dream of mine to be in an organization like Bellator. That is the ultimate goal and that’s what it is.”
When his signing was announced, it was stated that Caldwell will have non tournament fights before potentially being placed into a featherweight tournament. According to Caldwell, an exact timeline on his place in the tournament is unknown, but he just needs to go out there and show Bellator executives that he should be placed into a future tournament based on his performance.
“It’s all on my performance. If I go out there and win a few fights for them, then I believe they are going to be calling me up pretty soon. I relish that opportunity and after this win, I will be down to jump into the tournament.”
The Bellator featherweight division features three of the best 145 pound fighters in the world with current Bellator MMA champion Daniel Straus, former champion Pat Curran, and two time tournament winner Patricio Pitbull. Time will tell how Caldwell fits into this weight class, but Caldwell is ready for the opportunity to win a world title in Bellator MMA.
“I feel I stack up pretty well,” Caldwell explained. “I will give myself every chance, every opportunity to beat all the guys in the division. Whatever names gets thrown at me, I am going to take care of business. Destiny is destiny and this whole MMA career, and this whole fight career is in my destiny. I am relishing this opportunity to get that world title.”
Caldwell’s opponent on Friday night will be stepping into the cage for the first time since 2012, and finding footage on his opponent has been tough. Caldwell leaves the scouting of his opponent to the coaching staff at Power MMA, but he can’t worry about what his opponent is going to do as his mindset has to be on attacking his opponent.
“If I am too concerned with what he is doing, I am worrying about his offense and my defense. I need to be attacking and focusing on offense the whole fight.”
Just like every mixed martial artist, Caldwell has visualized his fight on Friday night ending in multiple ways and they all end with his hands being raised. When he steps into the cage, he will forget about all those ways and take what his opponent gives him. The most important aspect for him is walking away with the victory and getting ready for his next opponent in Bellator.
