Joe Warren Planning on Leaving MMA for 2012 Olympic Run

Filed under: Bellator, NewsJoe 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…

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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.

Joe Warren vs. Joe Soto Featherweight Title Fight Slated for Bellator 27 in San Antonio; Season 3 Shaping Up

(In case you forgot who Joe Soto is, here’s his beatdown of Yahir Reyes from the featherweight finals at Bellator 10.)
Not counting their impending battle in a court of law, Bellator’s third season will be packed with compelling matchups. The tour…

(In case you forgot who Joe Soto is, here’s his beatdown of Yahir Reyes from the featherweight finals at Bellator 10.)

Not counting their impending battle in a court of law, Bellator’s third season will be packed with compelling matchups. The tournament-based fight club announced today that season 2 featherweight winner Joe Warren will challenge for Joe Soto‘s belt at Bellator 27 (September 2nd at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio). Soto ran through Bellator’s inaugural 145-pound tourney last year, and most recently scored a TKO over Diego Saraiva in a non-title bout at Bellator 19, bringing his unblemished record to 9-0.

For its upcoming season, Bellator is focusing on big men, tiny women, and exiled UFC talent. Here’s a rundown of the notable matches that have been reportedly booked so far…

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Bellator Tournament Finals: Warren Wins Controversial Decision, Shlemenko Rolls

Filed under: Bellator, NewsJoe Warren and Alexander Shlemenko captured Bellator tournament titles, taking completely different paths en route to victories at Bellator 22.

Warren overcame a nearly disastrous first round, grinding out a disputed three-r…

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Joe Warren and Alexander Shlemenko captured Bellator tournament titles, taking completely different paths en route to victories at Bellator 22.

Warren overcame a nearly disastrous first round, grinding out a disputed three-round split decision over Patricio “Pitbull” Freire, while Shlemenko crushed his way to a first-round knockout win.