| Danny Sabatello | |
|---|---|
| Born | Daniel Anthony Sabatello March 31, 1993 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Other names | The Italian Gangster |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb) |
| Division | Bantamweight |
| Reach | 72 in (183 cm) [1] |
| Fighting out of | Sunrise, Florida, U.S. |
| Team | American Top Team |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 19 |
| Wins | 14 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 5 |
| By decision | 6 |
| Losses | 4 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Daniel Anthony Sabatello [2] (born March 31, 1993) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division of Rizin Fighting Federation.
Coming from a Sicilian family whose roots trace back to Palermo, Danny was born in Chicago, Illinois to Greg and Nancy Sabatello in the suburb of Long Grove. [3] He graduated from Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois, where he was a two-time Illinois state champion, going 152-19, which included two years at St. Viator High School, He went to wrestle Division I at Purdue University, where his older brothers Joey and Vinny also went. While there, he was a three-time NCAA Championships qualifier at 133 and 141, and a two-time 141-pound Big Ten Championship place-winner. He also become the first Purdue wrestler to twice earn Big Ten Wrestler of the Week honors in his career. [4] After finished his college degree in Law and Society with a minor in Organizational Leadership and Supervision, He moved to South Florida after his wrestling career on a whim to become a MMA fighter, eventually landing at American Top Team. [5] [6] [7] [8]
Making his MMA debut in 2018, Sabatello submitted Ray Paige in the first round and would go on to defeat his next 4 opponents on the Florida regional scene, 3 by first round stoppages. Making his debut for Titan FC at Titan FC 56, Sabatello defeated Philip Keller via TKO stoppage in the first round. [9] He was then given a chance to challenge reigning champ Irwin Rivera at Titan FC 58 on December 20, 2019. [10] Sabatello lost the bout via fourth-round technical knockout due to a body punch. [11]
Rebounding at Titan FC 56, he submitted Chris Johnson in the third round via arm-triangle choke, and at Titan FC 60, Sabatello was given another chance for the Titan FC Bantamweight Championship against Raymond Ramos, winning the bout and title via rear-naked choke in the first round. [12]
After winning the Titan FC title, Sabatello was given a spot on Dana White's Contender Series 35 against Taylor Moore. Despite judges scores of 30-24, 30-25, 30-26 on the road to a unanimous decision victory, Sabatello was not given a UFC contract. [13]
Returning to Titan FC, Sabatello faced future UFC fighter Da’mon Blackshear at Titan FC 67, defeating him over five round to defend his title. [14]
Sabatello, as a replacement for Matheus Mattos, faced Brett Johns on May 21, 2021 at Bellator 259. [15] Sabatello won the bout via unanimous decision. [16]
Sabatello was expected to face the 34-fight veteran Johnny Campbell on August 13, 2021 at Bellator 264. [17] However, the bout was cancelled during fight week due to health and safety protocols, with Sabatello being confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19. [18] [19]
Due to the pull out of two fighters from the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix due to injuries, a wild card bout between Sabatello and Jornel Lugo was announced for April 22, 2022 at Bellator 278. [20] He won the bout in dominant fashion via unanimous decision. [21]
After the bout, Sabatello signed a new long term deal with the promotion. [22]
Sabatello faced Leandro Higo in the quarter-finals of the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix at Bellator 282 on June 24, 2022. [23] He won the bout via unanimous decision. [24] Sabatello was fined $5,000 for abusive language in his post fight speech by the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation. [25]
In the semi-finals, Sabatello faced Raufeon Stots for the Interim Bellator Bantamweight World Championship on December 9, 2022 in the main event at Bellator 289. [26] He lost the fight via split decision. [27]
Sabatello faced Marcos Breno on April 21, 2023 at Bellator 294. [28] He won the bout in the second round after wearing Breno down and submitting him with a rear-naked choke. [29] [30]
Sabatello faced Magomed Magomedov on July 30, 2023 at Bellator MMA x Rizin 2. [31] He lost the fight via a guillotine choke submission in the first round. [32]
Sabatello rematched Raufeon Stots on November 17, 2023 at Bellator 301. [33] In a thrilling bout, Sabatello lost the bout via unanimous decision. [34]
Sabatello faced Lazaro Dayron on August 16, 2024 at PFL 8. [35] The bout was declared a majority draw. [36] [37]
On February 27, 2025, it was announced that Sabatello was no longer under contract with PFL and signed with Rizin FF. [38]
| 19 matches | 14 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 1 |
| By submission | 5 | 1 |
| By decision | 6 | 2 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draw | 14–4–1 | Lazaro Dayron | Draw (majority) | PFL 8 (2024) | August 16, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | Dayron was deducted one point in round 3 due to grabbing the fence. |
| Loss | 14–4 | Raufeon Stots | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 301 | November 17, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 14–3 | Magomed Magomedov | Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator MMA x Rizin 2 | July 30, 2023 | 1 | 3:55 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Win | 14–2 | Marcos Breno | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 294 | April 21, 2023 | 2 | 4:10 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
| Loss | 13–2 | Raufeon Stots | Decision (split) | Bellator 289 | December 9, 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Semifinal. For the interim Bellator Bantamweight World Championship. |
| Win | 13–1 | Leandro Higo | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 282 | June 24, 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 12–1 | Jornel Lugo | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 278 | April 22, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Wild Card Qualifier. |
| Win | 11–1 | Brett Johns | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 259 | May 21, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 10–1 | Da'Mon Blackshear | Decision (unanimous) | Titan FC 67 | February 12, 2021 | 5 | 5:00 | Miami, Florida, United States | Defended the Titan FC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–1 | Taylor Moore | Decision (unanimous) | Dana White's Contender Series 35 | November 10, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 8–1 | Raymond Ramos | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Titan FC 61 | June 26, 2020 | 1 | 1:56 | Miami, Florida, United States | Won the vacant Titan FC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–1 | Chris Johnson | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Titan FC 60 | May 29, 2020 | 3 | 1:54 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Loss | 6–1 | Irwin Rivera | TKO (punch to the body) | Titan FC 58 | December 20, 2019 | 4 | 4:26 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | For the Titan FC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–0 | Philip Keller | TKO (punches) | Titan FC 56 | August 23, 2019 | 1 | 1:41 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Earnest Walls | Submission (rear-naked choke) | War at the Rock 2 | June 19, 2019 | 1 | 1:34 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | Catchweight (140 lb) bout. |
| Win | 4–0 | John Barragan | KO | Underground Cage Fighting Championship 3 | March 30, 2019 | 1 | 2:29 | West Palm Beach, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Jeremias Fernandez | Decision (unanimous) | War at the Rock 1 | February 16, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Cesar Danny Gonzalez | KO (punch) | Underground Cage Fighting Championship 2 | November 17, 2018 | 1 | 0:53 | West Palm Beach, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Ray Paige | Submission | Underground Cage Fighting Championship 1 | July 21, 2018 | 1 | 2:55 | West Palm Beach, Florida, United States |