Joe Soto
Encyclopedia
Joseph Angel Soto is an American
professional
mixed martial arts
(MMA) fighter. Soto is currently signed under the Bellator Fighting Championships
promotion where he was the first ever Bellator Featherweight Champion, and the winner of their inaugural featherweight tournament.
descent and is very proud of his heritage.
Soto got an athletic scholarship to Iowa Central Community College
. There Soto wrestled with Jon Jones
and fellow Mexican American Cain Velasquez
. Soto and Jones were also roommates during their freshmen and sophomore years.
.
by entering their first season featherweight tournament. He made his debut defeating Ben Greer at Bellator 1.
In Soto's semi-final fight, which took place May 8 at Bellator 6, he dominated Wilson Reis
from the opening bell with impeccable takedown defense and superior striking. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, and the only Elitexc featherweight champion Wilson Reis
could never get the fight to the ground.
Soto advanced to the Bellator
featherweight finals and took on Yahir Reyes
. Soto won the fight by submission in the second round and became the first Bellator featherweight champion. A few days before the championships, Soto cut his eyelid while wrestling during a warm-up and had to go to the hospital. Knowing stitches were not an option, he and his friends went to a beauty parlor to have the cut covered with make-up. While the doctor was inspecting Soto, his camp made sure to crack jokes and distract the specialist from noticing the cut over his eye.
At Bellator 19, Soto fought Diego Saraiva
in a "Super Fight". Soto won the fight after cage side doctors said Saraiva was unable to continue because of a cut on his forehead.
Soto had his first title defense in the third season, taking on the winner of the second season's featherweight tournament, Joe Warren
. Following a dominant first round Soto was knocked unconscious by Warren at 0:33 of the second round. In the fight, Soto suffered a detached retina and will be forced to stay away from fighting for possibly a year or more.
Bellator Fighting Championships promoter, Bjorn Rebney, stated that Soto would be eligible to drop down a weight class for Bellator's Season Five Bantamweight Tournament with a win at Tachi Palace Fights 10
. Soto lost to Eddie Yagin
by first round submission, and will be replaced in the tournament.
|Loss
|align=center|9-2
|
Eddie Yagin
| Submission (Guillotine Choke)
| Tachi Palace Fights 10
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:00
|Lemoore, California
, United States
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center|9-1
| Joe Warren
| KO (knee and punches)
| Bellator 27
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|0:33
|San Antonio, Texas
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center|9-0
|
Diego Saraiva
| TKO (doctor stoppage)
| Bellator 19
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|5:00
|Grand Prairie, Texas
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center|8-0
| Mike Christensen
| Submission (gogoplata)
| Tachi Palace Fights 1: Most Wanted
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:06
|Lemoore, California
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center|7-0
|
Yahir Reyes
| Submission (rear naked choke)
| Bellator 10
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|4:11
|Ontario, California
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center|6-0
| Wilson Reis
| Decision (unanimous)
| Bellator 6
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Robstown, Texas
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center|5-0
|
Ben Greer
| TKO (punches)
| Bellator 1
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|3:40
|Hollywood, Florida
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center|4-0
| Anthony Luna
| Submission (kimura)
| Gladiator Challenge 86: Day of the Dead
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:33
|Miami, Florida
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center|3-0
| Brandon Jinnies
| TKO (punches)
| PFC 10: Explosive
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:59
|Lemoore, California
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center|2-0
| Darren Crisp
| Submission (kneebar)
| Palace FC 9: The Return
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:08
|Lemoore, California
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|1-0
| Jared Williams
| TKO (Strikes)
| Gladiator Challenge 53: Hell Storm
|
|1
|3:26
|Porterville, California
, United States
|
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
(MMA) fighter. Soto is currently signed under the Bellator Fighting Championships
Bellator Fighting Championships
Bellator Fighting Championships is a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. "Bellator", which is Latin for "Warrior", is organized into seasons with each event hosting the rounds of championship knockout tournaments for three-five weight divisions.-History:In its first season,...
promotion where he was the first ever Bellator Featherweight Champion, and the winner of their inaugural featherweight tournament.
Biography
At the time Soto was born, the fourth son, his parents were struggling financially, with his father working as a garbage man and his mother as a house cleaner. Soto grew up in a very religious Pentecostal family, attending church with his family weekly. Joe is of MexicanMexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
descent and is very proud of his heritage.
Soto got an athletic scholarship to Iowa Central Community College
Iowa Central Community College
Iowa Central Community College is a community college located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, United States, with satellite campuses in Webster City and Storm Lake. It was created in 1966 by the merger of Fort Dodge Community College with two other nearby schools....
. There Soto wrestled with Jon Jones
Jon Jones (fighter)
Jonathan Dwight Jones is an American mixed martial artist from Endicott, New York. He is the current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion....
and fellow Mexican American Cain Velasquez
Cain Velasquez
Cain Ramirez Velasquez is an American mixed martial artist fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. He is a two-time All-American collegiate wrestler from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, and a Junior College National Champ at Iowa...
. Soto and Jones were also roommates during their freshmen and sophomore years.
Mixed martial arts
Soto began training mixed martial arts after meeting another fighter who agreed to train him in his garage. Soto began training and took his first fight at a Gladiator Challenge event. Soto won the fight midway in the first round via technical knockout. Soto compiled a 4-0 record before getting signed to Bellator Fighting ChampionshipsBellator Fighting Championships
Bellator Fighting Championships is a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. "Bellator", which is Latin for "Warrior", is organized into seasons with each event hosting the rounds of championship knockout tournaments for three-five weight divisions.-History:In its first season,...
.
Bellator Fighting Championships
Soto joined Bellator Fighting ChampionshipsBellator Fighting Championships
Bellator Fighting Championships is a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. "Bellator", which is Latin for "Warrior", is organized into seasons with each event hosting the rounds of championship knockout tournaments for three-five weight divisions.-History:In its first season,...
by entering their first season featherweight tournament. He made his debut defeating Ben Greer at Bellator 1.
In Soto's semi-final fight, which took place May 8 at Bellator 6, he dominated Wilson Reis
Wilson Reis
Wilson Reis is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu black belt. Reis received his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from instructor Roberto Godoi. As a brown belt he won the 2004 Jiu Jitsu World Championships...
from the opening bell with impeccable takedown defense and superior striking. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, and the only Elitexc featherweight champion Wilson Reis
Wilson Reis
Wilson Reis is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu black belt. Reis received his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from instructor Roberto Godoi. As a brown belt he won the 2004 Jiu Jitsu World Championships...
could never get the fight to the ground.
Soto advanced to the Bellator
Bellator Fighting Championships
Bellator Fighting Championships is a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. "Bellator", which is Latin for "Warrior", is organized into seasons with each event hosting the rounds of championship knockout tournaments for three-five weight divisions.-History:In its first season,...
featherweight finals and took on Yahir Reyes
Yahir Reyes
Yahir Reyes is a Mexican mixed martial artist. He is most known for his stint with Bellator Fighting Championships, fighting in their first season featherweight tournament. Reyes made it to the final round of the tournament which took place at Bellator 10, fighting Joe Soto...
. Soto won the fight by submission in the second round and became the first Bellator featherweight champion. A few days before the championships, Soto cut his eyelid while wrestling during a warm-up and had to go to the hospital. Knowing stitches were not an option, he and his friends went to a beauty parlor to have the cut covered with make-up. While the doctor was inspecting Soto, his camp made sure to crack jokes and distract the specialist from noticing the cut over his eye.
At Bellator 19, Soto fought Diego Saraiva
Diego Saraiva
Diego Saraiva is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He competes in the Palace Fighting Championship as well as other promotions in the Lightweight division.-Mixed martial arts career:...
in a "Super Fight". Soto won the fight after cage side doctors said Saraiva was unable to continue because of a cut on his forehead.
Soto had his first title defense in the third season, taking on the winner of the second season's featherweight tournament, Joe Warren
Joe Warren (fighter)
Joe Warren is an American Greco-Roman wrestler and mixed martial artist. As a Greco-Roman wrestler, he won the 2006 Pan American and World Championship and was a favourite for the 2008 Olympics, but was given a two-year suspension after testing positive for THC while trying to qualify for the 2007...
. Following a dominant first round Soto was knocked unconscious by Warren at 0:33 of the second round. In the fight, Soto suffered a detached retina and will be forced to stay away from fighting for possibly a year or more.
Bellator Fighting Championships promoter, Bjorn Rebney, stated that Soto would be eligible to drop down a weight class for Bellator's Season Five Bantamweight Tournament with a win at Tachi Palace Fights 10
Tachi Palace Fights 10
Tachi Palace Fights 10 was a mixed martial arts event held by Tachi Palace Fights , on August 5, 2011 at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, California.-Background:...
. Soto lost to Eddie Yagin
Eddie Yagin
Eddie “The Filipino Phenom” Yagin is a Filipino-American mixed martial artist from Honolulu, Hawaii. He is a former X-1 Featherweight Champion, former Tachi Palace Fights Featherweight Champion and is currently signed as a Featherweight in the UFC.-Pre-UFC:Yagin was scheduled to face off...
by first round submission, and will be replaced in the tournament.
Mixed martial arts
- Bellator Fighting ChampionshipsBellator Fighting ChampionshipsBellator Fighting Championships is a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. "Bellator", which is Latin for "Warrior", is organized into seasons with each event hosting the rounds of championship knockout tournaments for three-five weight divisions.-History:In its first season,...
- Bellator Featherweight Championship (One time; First)
- Bellator Season 1 Featherweight Tournament Winner
Amateur wrestling
- National Junior College Athletic AssociationNational Junior College Athletic AssociationThe National Junior College Athletic Association , founded in 1938, is an association of community college and junior college athletic departments throughout the United States. It is held as Divisions and Regions. The current NJCAA holds 24 separate regions.-History:The idea for the NJCAA was...
- NJCAANational Junior College Athletic AssociationThe National Junior College Athletic Association , founded in 1938, is an association of community college and junior college athletic departments throughout the United States. It is held as Divisions and Regions. The current NJCAA holds 24 separate regions.-History:The idea for the NJCAA was...
Junior Collegiate Championship Runner-up (2007) - NJCAANational Junior College Athletic AssociationThe National Junior College Athletic Association , founded in 1938, is an association of community college and junior college athletic departments throughout the United States. It is held as Divisions and Regions. The current NJCAA holds 24 separate regions.-History:The idea for the NJCAA was...
Junior Collegiate Championship 3rd Place (2006) - NJCAANational Junior College Athletic AssociationThe National Junior College Athletic Association , founded in 1938, is an association of community college and junior college athletic departments throughout the United States. It is held as Divisions and Regions. The current NJCAA holds 24 separate regions.-History:The idea for the NJCAA was...
All-American (2006, 2007)
- NJCAA
Mixed martial arts record
|-|Loss
|align=center|9-2
|
Eddie YaginEddie Yagin
Eddie “The Filipino Phenom” Yagin is a Filipino-American mixed martial artist from Honolulu, Hawaii. He is a former X-1 Featherweight Champion, former Tachi Palace Fights Featherweight Champion and is currently signed as a Featherweight in the UFC.-Pre-UFC:Yagin was scheduled to face off...
| Submission (Guillotine Choke)
| Tachi Palace Fights 10
Tachi Palace Fights 10
Tachi Palace Fights 10 was a mixed martial arts event held by Tachi Palace Fights , on August 5, 2011 at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, California.-Background:...
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:00
|Lemoore, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Lemoore is located west-southwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 230 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center|9-1
|
Joe WarrenJoe Warren (fighter)
Joe Warren is an American Greco-Roman wrestler and mixed martial artist. As a Greco-Roman wrestler, he won the 2006 Pan American and World Championship and was a favourite for the 2008 Olympics, but was given a two-year suspension after testing positive for THC while trying to qualify for the 2007...
| KO (knee and punches)
| Bellator 27
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|0:33
|San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center|9-0
|
Diego SaraivaDiego Saraiva
Diego Saraiva is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He competes in the Palace Fighting Championship as well as other promotions in the Lightweight division.-Mixed martial arts career:...
| TKO (doctor stoppage)
| Bellator 19
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|5:00
|Grand Prairie, Texas
Grand Prairie, Texas
Grand Prairie is a city in Dallas, Ellis, and Tarrant counties in the U.S. state of Texas and is a part of the Mid-Cities region in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Grand Prairie is a suburb of both Dallas and Fort Worth and had a population of 175,396 at the 2010 census.- History :The city of...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center|8-0
|
Mike Christensen| Submission (gogoplata)
| Tachi Palace Fights 1: Most Wanted
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:06
|Lemoore, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Lemoore is located west-southwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 230 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center|7-0
|
Yahir ReyesYahir Reyes
Yahir Reyes is a Mexican mixed martial artist. He is most known for his stint with Bellator Fighting Championships, fighting in their first season featherweight tournament. Reyes made it to the final round of the tournament which took place at Bellator 10, fighting Joe Soto...
| Submission (rear naked choke)
| Bellator 10
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|4:11
|Ontario, California
Ontario, California
Ontario is a city located in San Bernardino County, California, United States, 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Located in the western part of the Inland Empire region, it lies just east of the Los Angeles county line and is part of the Greater Los Angeles Area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center|6-0
|
Wilson ReisWilson Reis
Wilson Reis is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu black belt. Reis received his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from instructor Roberto Godoi. As a brown belt he won the 2004 Jiu Jitsu World Championships...
| Decision (unanimous)
| Bellator 6
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Robstown, Texas
Robstown, Texas
Robstown is a city in Nueces County, Texas, United States, and a western suburb of Corpus Christi. It was founded about 1906, and was named for Robert Driscoll Jr., a landowner...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center|5-0
|
Ben Greer| TKO (punches)
| Bellator 1
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|3:40
|Hollywood, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center|4-0
|
Anthony Luna| Submission (kimura)
| Gladiator Challenge 86: Day of the Dead
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:33
|Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center|3-0
|
Brandon Jinnies| TKO (punches)
| PFC 10: Explosive
PFC 10: Explosive
PFC 10: Explosive was a mixed martial arts event held by the Palace Fighting Championship on September 26, 2008 in Lemoore, California, USA.-Fight Card:...
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:59
|Lemoore, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Lemoore is located west-southwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 230 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center|2-0
|
Darren Crisp| Submission (kneebar)
| Palace FC 9: The Return
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:08
|Lemoore, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Lemoore is located west-southwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 230 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|1-0
|
Jared Williams| TKO (Strikes)
| Gladiator Challenge 53: Hell Storm
|
|1
|3:26
|Porterville, California
Porterville, California
Porterville is a city in the San Joaquin Valley, in Tulare County, California, United States. Porterville's population was 54,165 at the 2010 census. The city's population grew dramatically as the city annexed many properties and unincorporated areas in and around Porterville. Not included in the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|