Darrion Caldwell

Darrion Caldwell (born December 19, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist and graduated collegiate wrestler, who currently competes in the bantamweight division.

He formely competed in Bellator MMA, where he is the former Bellator Bantamweight World Champion.

For that year's performance, he received the 2008 Wade Schalles Award for best collegiate pinner.

As a junior, he compiled 38 wins and a lone loss that was an injury default, putting on one of the most outstanding seasons in the history of the program.

In the post-season, he won his third ACC championship and entered the NCAA's as the third seed.

At the tournament, he opened up with two wins over unranked opponents (one of them would go on to become a UFC fighter, Desmond Green) and two more victories over seeded opponents (all four matches with bonus points) to make it to the finale, where he faced the returning Dan Hodge Trophy winner Brent Metcalf.

He would end up easily beating Metcalf 11–6 in one of the most iconic matches in NCAA Division I history to claim the championship and earn the Outstanding Wrestler award.

As a folkstyle wrestler, Caldwell was the 2009 NCAA Division I National Champion, and a two-time All-American at 149 pounds out of the North Carolina State University.

He was also a four-time ACC Conference champion.

Born and raised in Rahway, New Jersey, Caldwell was an outstanding athlete, lettering in wrestling, football, and baseball at Rahway High School.

He was a two-time All-Region football player, but had his most success on the wrestling mats, as he had a record of 148-4 (three losses came as a freshman), and compiled three NJSIAA championships.

Caldwell continued wrestling at North Carolina State University.

As a true freshman, he compiled 20 wins and 6 losses and was named ACC Wrestler of the year and Rookie of the year, as he won the Conference championship and posted an undefeated 9–0 record against ACC competition.

Entering the NCAA championships unseeded, he opened up with a fall over the ninth seed and a forfeit over the eight seed, but was subsequently downed by the undefeated top-seed and ultimately eliminated by eventual NCAA champion J. Jaggers, missing All-American status.

As a sophomore, he compiled 36 wins and 5 losses and also won the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational during regular season.

Post-season, he won his second straight ACC championship and made it to the semifinals of the NCAA's with a notable win over former NCAA champion Dustin Schlatter.

However, he was defeated at the semifinals by the reigning Junior World Champion later turned MMA fighter Bubba Jenkins and by Josh Churella at the consolation semifinals.

He ended up placing fifth after winning one more match.

Caldwell made his senior freestyle debut at the 2009 US World Team Trials.

He ended up placing third at the tournament.

Caldwell was forced to redshirt his next season due to a shoulder injury and came back as a senior in 2010–11.

He compiled 15 wins and a lone loss and became a four-time Conference champion before the shoulder injury resurged during his second match at the NCAA's (where he was the top-seed).

This forced him to end his collegiate career as an NCAA champion and four-time ACC champion with a record of 109–13.

A professional since 2012, he has also competed for Legacy FC.

He came back in 2012 at the Dave Schultz Memorial, where he did not place.

In his final senior freestyle competition, Caldwell competed at the 2012 US Olympic Team Trials Challenge, where he once again did not place and became an MMA fighter shortly after.

In July 2012, it was revealed that Caldwell had signed with Texas-based promotion Legacy Fighting Championship.

Caldwell made his MMA and promotional debut against David Armas at Legacy FC 14 on September 14, 2012.

For the majority of the fight, Caldwell was able to control the fight on the ground, mounting and taking Armas' back several times.

He won via unanimous decision.

In his second professional fight, Caldwell met Quaint Kempf at Legacy FC 16 on December 14, 2012.

He won the fight via TKO after dropping Kempf with a left hand and unloading with a series of punches on the ground.

Caldwell next faced Gerzan Chaw at Legacy FC 21 on July 19, 2013.

He won the fight via unanimous decision after three rounds.

Caldwell signed with Bellator MMA in November 2013.

Caldwell made his debut for the promotion against Lance Surma on March 14, 2014 at Bellator 112.

He won via guillotine choke submission at 0:50 in the first round.

In his second appearance for Bellator, Caldwell faced Joe Pingitore at Bellator 118 on May 2, 2014.

After more than eight years since his last freestyle wrestling showdown, Caldwell wrestled '20 Big Ten Conference champion Luke Pletcher on July 25, 2020, at FloWrestling: Dake vs. Chamizo.

He lost the bout on points.