Joe Warren has certainly made an impact in his 17-month pro MMA career.
He defeated veterans Chase Beebe and Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto in his first two fights, which just so happened to be in the DREAM featherweight tournament in 2009. Those wins landed him in the finals of the tournament before losing to eventual champion Bibiano Fernandes.
Warren rebounded from that defeat to win the Bellator Season 2 featherweight tournament. Thursday evening, he challenges champion Joe Soto for the Bellator 145-pound belt.
Three weeks later, Warren will face the dangerous Michihiro Omigawa at DREAM.16.
Obviously, Warren expects to win both those fights. He also expects to be the DREAM featherweight champion by Jan. 1, 2011.
His next move, though, might surprise you.
Warren told host Mauro Ranallo on Sirius’ The Fight Show earlier this week, that he plans to leave MMA this time next year to make a run at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.