Darrion Caldwell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Darrion Caldwell
Caldwell in 2019
Born	(1987-12-19) December 19, 1987 (age 37) Rahway, New Jersey, U.S.
Other names	The Wolf
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight	145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st)
Division	Bantamweight (2015–2019, 2021–present) Featherweight (2012–2014, 2019–2021)
Reach	74 in (188 cm)
Style	Wrestling
Fighting out of	Redlands, California, U.S.
Team	Pinnacle Mixed Martial Arts (formerly) Sanford MMA (2021–present)
Rank	Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Wrestling	NCAA Division I Wrestling
Years active	2012–2023
Mixed martial arts record
Total	22
Wins	15
By knockout	2
By submission	6
By decision	7
Losses	7
By knockout	1
By submission	3
By decision	3
University	North Carolina State University
Medal record Collegiate Wrestling Representing the NC State Wolfpack NCAA Division I Championships Gold 2009 St. Louis 149 lb ACC Championships Gold 2007 Raleigh 141 lb Gold 2008 College Park 149 lb Gold 2009 Blacksburg 149 lb Gold 2011 Charlottesville 149 lb

Darrion Caldwell (born December 19, 1987) is a retired American mixed martial artist. He was also a very successful college wrestler. He used to compete in Bellator MMA, where he was the Bellator Bantamweight World Champion.

Caldwell started his professional fighting career in 2012. Before that, he was a top folkstyle wrestler. He won the 2009 NCAA Division I National Championship. He was also a two-time All-American from North Carolina State University. Plus, he won the ACC Conference championship four times.

Wrestling Career

High School Years

Darrion Caldwell grew up in Rahway, New Jersey. He was a fantastic athlete in high school. He earned special recognition in wrestling, football, and baseball. He was a two-time All-Region football player. But he was most successful in wrestling. He had an amazing record of 148 wins and only 4 losses. He also won three New Jersey State championships.

College Wrestling

Caldwell continued his wrestling journey at North Carolina State University.

Freshman Year (2006-07)

As a first-year student, Darrion won 20 matches and lost 6. He was named ACC Wrestler of the Year. He also won Rookie of the Year. He won the ACC Conference championship. He had a perfect 9–0 record against other ACC wrestlers. He almost became an All-American at the NCAA championships.

Sophomore Year (2007-08)

In his second year, he won 36 matches and lost 5. He also won the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. He won his second ACC championship. He reached the semifinals at the NCAA's. He beat a former NCAA champion, Dustin Schlatter. He finished fifth in the tournament. He received an award for being the best college pinner.

Junior Year (2008-09)

As a junior, he had an incredible season. He won 38 matches and lost only once due to injury. He won his third ACC championship. He entered the NCAA's as a top contender. He won four matches with bonus points. He reached the finals against Brent Metcalf. He easily beat Metcalf 11–6. This was one of the most famous matches in NCAA history. He won the championship and was named the Outstanding Wrestler.

Senior Year (2009-11)

Caldwell had to take a year off due to a shoulder injury. He returned as a senior in 2010–11. He won 15 matches and lost only once. He became a four-time Conference champion. His shoulder injury came back during the NCAA's. This ended his college wrestling career. He finished as an NCAA champion. He had a total record of 109 wins and 13 losses.

Freestyle Wrestling

After college, Caldwell tried Freestyle wrestling. He competed in the 2009 US World Team Trials. He finished in third place there. He also competed in the 2012 US Olympic Team Trials. He did not place in that event. Soon after, he decided to become a mixed martial artist.

Years later, in 2020, Caldwell wrestled again. He faced Luke Pletcher in a special event. He lost that match on points.

Mixed Martial Arts Career

Early Career: Legacy Fighting Championship

In July 2012, Caldwell signed with Legacy Fighting Championship. This was a fighting promotion based in Texas.

He had his first professional MMA fight on September 14, 2012. He won by a unanimous decision. In his second fight, he won by TKO. He knocked his opponent down with a punch. He won his third fight by unanimous decision.

Bellator MMA

Caldwell joined Bellator MMA in November 2013.

Featherweight Division

Caldwell made his Bellator debut on March 14, 2014. He won by submission in the first round. He won his next two fights as well. He then decided to move to a lighter weight class.

Bantamweight Division

Caldwell moved to the bantamweight division in 2015. He won his first fight in this new weight class. He then won against Shawn Bunch by submission.

In a big fight, Caldwell faced Joe Warren. Caldwell completely dominated the fight. He won by submission in the first round.

He then faced Joe Taimanglo and lost. But Taimanglo had missed weight for that fight. So, they had a rematch. Caldwell won the rematch by unanimous decision.

Caldwell was set to fight Eduardo Dantas for the Bellator bantamweight championship. But Caldwell got injured. The fight was rescheduled for October 6, 2017. Caldwell won the fight by unanimous decision. He became the Bellator Bantamweight Champion!

He defended his title against Leandro Higo in March 2018. He won by submission in the first round.

Return to Featherweight

In August 2018, Caldwell moved back up to featherweight. He fought Noad Lahat and won by knockout.

Rizin FF

Caldwell then had a special fight. It was against Kyoji Horiguchi from Rizin FF. This was a champion vs. champion match. He lost this fight by submission.

Losing the Bellator Title

In April 2019, Caldwell had a rematch with Kyoji Horiguchi. This time, it was for his Bellator Bantamweight title. Caldwell lost the rematch by unanimous decision. He lost his championship.

Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix

In July 2019, Caldwell joined a big tournament. It was the 16-man Featherweight Grand Prix. He won his first fight against Henry Corrales. He won his second fight against Ádám Borics by submission.

In the semifinals, he faced A. J. McKee. Caldwell lost this fight by submission in the first round.

Return to Bantamweight (Again)

Caldwell returned to bantamweight in May 2021. He fought Leandro Higo again. Caldwell lost the fight by a split decision.

He then faced Enrique Barzola in January 2022. Caldwell lost this fight by TKO.

His last fight was in February 2023 against Nikita Mikhailov. Caldwell controlled the wrestling. But he lost the fight by unanimous decision. This was because he didn't do much damage.

In November 2023, Caldwell announced he was no longer with Bellator. He was scheduled for another fight in April 2024. But his opponent got injured, and no replacement was found.

Celebratory Backflip Incidents

Darrion Caldwell is known for his exciting backflips.

In his 2009 NCAA championship match, he tried to celebrate early. He did a backflip as the match ended. His opponent, Brent Metcalf, pushed him during the flip. Caldwell fell hard. Metcalf later said sorry for the push.

After winning a fight in Bellator in 2015, Caldwell did another backflip. He jumped off the cage. He accidentally landed on a camerawoman. She was okay, and Caldwell quickly apologized.

Championships and Accomplishments

Mixed Martial Arts

• Bellator MMA
  • Bellator Bantamweight World Championship (One time)
    • He successfully defended his title once.
  • He has the most submission wins in Bellator Bantamweight history (three).

Folkstyle Wrestling

• National Collegiate Athletic Association
  • NCAA Division I Champion (2009)
  • NCAA Division I All-American (2008, 2009)
  • NCAA Division I 149 lb - 5th Place (2008)
  • NCAA Division I 149 lb - 1st Place (2009)
• Atlantic Coast Conference
  • ACC 141 lb Conference Championship (2007)
  • ACC 149 lb Conference Championship (2008, 2009, 2011)