Joey Davis

Last updated

Joey Davis
BornJoey Malcom Davis
(1993-12-29) December 29, 1993 (age 31)
Compton, California, United States
Other namesBlack Ice
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st)
Division Welterweight (170 lbs)
Reach75 in (191 cm)
Style Wrestling
Fighting out of Compton, California, United States
TeamTeam Bodyshop
Wrestling NCAA Division II Wrestling [1]
Years active2016–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total9
Wins8
By knockout5
By decision3
Losses1
By decision1
Amateur record
Total5
Wins5
Losses0
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing the Notre Dame Falcons
NCAA Division II Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2013 Birmingham165 lb
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2014 Cleveland174 lb
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2015 St. Louis174 lb
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg2016 Sioux Falls184 lb

Joel Malcolm Davis (born December 29, 1993) is an American professional mixed martial artist and graduated folkstyle wrestler who currently competes in the welterweight division. [2] As a wrestler at Notre Dame College, he was the only four-time undefeated NCAA Division II National Champion in history and one of the three to do so across all NCAA divisions.

Contents

Wrestling career

High school

Born in Compton, California, Davis attended Santa Fe High School, where he was a two-sport athlete, playing football and competing in wrestling. [3] He started wrestling at age five, and he was a CIF state finalist his sophomore year and state champion in his junior and senior seasons as a high schooler. [4] Nationally, he was a two-time FloNationals champion and a Reno champion. [4]

Davis was an NCAA Division I recruit as a football player, however, he chose to wrestle. [5]

College

After graduating from high school, Davis committed to wrestle at Notre Dame College. [6]

Davis finished his true freshman season with 33 victories and no defeats and an NCAA title at 165 pounds. After moving up to 174 pounds, Davis compiled 35 more wins and closed the season undefeated, claiming titles from the Clarion Knight Point Open, Michigan State Open, Cleveland State Open, University of Indianapolis Greyhound Open, NCAA Division II Super Region I and the NCAA National Championship. [7] As a junior, he compiled a record of 38–0 and won his third NCAA Division II National title. [8] In his fourth and last season, Davis was able to close the show with a National title at 184 pounds and the Outstanding Wrestler Award, finishing his overall career with 133 wins and no losses. [9] [10]

Davis is one of the three undefeated four-time NCAA champions, sharing the podium with Cael Sanderson (159–0) from Division I and Marcus LeVesseur (155–0) from Division III. [11]

Freestyle

In May 2016, Davis competed at the annual Beat The Streets event, named Salsa in the Square. He faced three-time NCAA Division I Champion and Dan Hodge Trophy winner Alex Dieringer. He lost the match by points, being outscored 9 points to none. [12]

Mixed martial arts career

Davis started competing in mixed martial arts while he was still competing in college, amassing an undefeated record of 5 wins and no losses. [13]

Bellator MMA

Davis signed with Bellator MMA in June 2016, months after his last wrestling season in college. [14]

Davis made his professional debut at an 175-pound catchweight bout against Keith Cutrone on August 26, 2016, at Bellator 160. He won the fight by unanimous decision. [15]

Davis faced Justin Roswell on August 25, 2017, at Bellator 182 (a year later his previous bout). He won the fight by technical-knockout in the first round. [16]

Davis faced Ian Butler on January 20, 2018, at Bellator 192. He won the fight by knockout 39 seconds into the first round. [17]

Davis faced Craig Plaskett on June 29, 2018, at Bellator 201. He won the fight by unanimous decision. [18]

Davis was scheduled to face Jesse Merritton on March 29, 2019, at Bellator 219. However, Merritton withdrew from the event and was replaced by Marcus Anthony. Davis won the fight by knockout in the first round. [19]

Davis faced Jeff Peterson on October 9, 2019, at Bellator 229. He won the fight by knockout in a minute into the first round. [20]

Davis faced Chris Cisneros on December 20, 2019, at Bellator 235. He won the fight by technical-knockout in the first round. [21]

Davis faced promotional newcomer Bobby Lee on November 19, at Bellator 253. [22] He won the fight by unanimous decision. [23]

After a 2.5 year layoff, Davis made his return against Jeff Creighton on March 31, 2023, at Bellator 293. [24] Despite being a 14-to-1 favorite, Davis lost the bout via split decision. [25]

Awards and accomplishments

May 17, 2025 Joey Davis was inducted into the California Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Folkstyle wrestling

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
9 matches8 wins1 loss
By knockout50
By decision31
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss8–1Jeff CreightonDecision (split) Bellator 293 March 31, 202335:00 Temecula, California, United States
Win8–0Bobby LeeDecision (unanimous) Bellator 253 November 19, 202035:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win7–0Chris CisnerosTKO (punches) Bellator 235 December 20, 201913:55 Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Win6–0Jeffrey PetersonKO (flying knee) Bellator 229 October 9, 201911:00 Temecula, California, United States
Win5–0Marcus AnthonyKO (punch) Bellator 219 March 29, 201914:21 Temecula, California, United States
Win4–0Craig PlaskettDecision (unanimous) Bellator 201 June 29, 201835:00 Temecula, California, United States
Win3–0Ian ButlerKO (spinning back kick) Bellator 192 January 20, 201810:39 Inglewood, California, United StatesWelterweight debut.
Win2–0Justin RoswellTKO (elbows) Bellator 182 August 25, 201711:35 Verona, New York, United StatesCatchweight (175 lb) bout.
Win1–0Keith CutroneDecision (unanimous) Bellator 160 August 26, 201635:00 Anaheim, California, United StatesCatchweight (175 lb) bout.

NCAA record

NCAA Division II Championships Matches
Res.RecordOpponentScoreDateEvent
2016 NCAA (DII) Championships Gold medal icon.svg at 184 lbs
Win16–0Travis Mckillop3–1March 11–12, 20162016 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships
Win15–0Jacob Waste3–2
Win14–0Nick Burghardt8–2
Win13–0Brandon SupernawMD 13–5
2015 NCAA (DII) Championships Gold medal icon.svg at 174 lbs
Win12–0Zeb Wahle4–2March 13–14, 20152015 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships
Win11–0John Blankenship7–4
Win10–0Terrence Zaleski4–2
Win9–0Caleb CopelandMD 14–5
2014 NCAA (DII) Championships Gold medal icon.svg at 174 lbs
Win8–0Adam Walters4–1March 14–15, 20142014 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships
Win7–0Patrick Martinez5–2
Win6–0Trevor GrantFall
Win5–0Conner MonkFall
2013 NCAA (DII) Championships Gold medal icon.svg at 165 lbs
Win4–0Chase Nelson7–5March 8–9, 20132013 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships
Win3–0Isaiah JimenezMD 11–2
Win2–0Justin SamoraMD 18–4
Win1–0Wade Gobin11–7

References

  1. ↑ Dave Doyle (December 20, 2019). "Bellator 235 results: Joey Davis rolls over Chris Cisneros for first-round stoppage". mmajunkie.com.
  2. ↑ "Joey Davis – MMA Fighter Profile". Bellator.com. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Joey Davis' High School Timeline". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  4. 1 2 News, CA School (March 16, 2016). "Former Santa Fe High School Standout Joey Davis Wins 4th Consecutive Wrestling Title". California School News Report. Retrieved October 29, 2020.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  5. ↑ "Bio". Joey Black Ice Davis. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  6. ↑ CalGrappler (April 10, 2012). "Joey Davis Commits to Notre Dame". CalGrappler – The Home for California High School Wrestling. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Joey Davis – Wrestling". Notre Dame College Athletics. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  8. ↑ Podolski, Mark. "College wrestling: Notre Dame College junior Joey Davis after winning third NCAA title: 'I want to be a legend in this sport'". The News-Herald. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  9. ↑ "NCAA Division II Wrestling: Unbeaten Joey Davis dodged gangs, found Notre Dame College". cleveland.com. March 13, 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  10. ↑ "College wrestling: Notre Dame College's Joey Davis is first D-II undefeated four-time NCAA champ". News-herald.com. January 12, 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Still undefeated: Joey Davis has made smooth transition to MMA". InterMat. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Notre Dame College's Joey Davis loses to Oklahoma State's Alex Derringer in 'challenge' match". News-herald.com. May 21, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Undefeated college wrestler and Snoop Dogg coaching product Joey Davis mulls MMA career". Bloody Elbow. May 14, 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  14. ↑ Newswire, MMA Fighting (June 15, 2016). "Bellator signs 4-time NCAA Division II champ Joey Davis". MMA Fighting. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  15. ↑ Gallo, Ed (June 25, 2018). "The Style of Joey Davis: Intelligent Destruction". MMASucka.com. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  16. ↑ Matt Erickson (August 25, 2017). "Bellator 182 results: Ex-champ Andrey Koreshkov pounds out Chidi Njokuani in first round". mmajunkie.com.
  17. ↑ "Bellator 192: Rampage vs. Sonnen Results, Fight Card and News – MMA Fighting". www.mmafighting.com. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Bellator 201: Macfarlane vs. Lara Results, Fight Card and News – MMA Fighting". www.mmafighting.com. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  19. ↑ Tucker, Bryan (March 29, 2019). "Bellator 219 Results: Awad vs. Girtz". MMA Fighting. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  20. ↑ Tucker, Bryan (October 4, 2019). "Bellator 229 Results: Koreshkov vs. Larkin". MMA Fighting. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  21. ↑ Tucker, Bryan (December 20, 2019). "Bellator 235 Results: Barnett vs. Markes". MMA Fighting. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  22. ↑ Staff Reports. "Two-minute drill: Becker MMA fighter signs with Bellator". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  23. ↑ Anderson, Jay (November 19, 2020). "Bellator 253 Results: Joey Davis Too Much for Debuting Bobby Lee". Cageside Press. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  24. ↑ Critchfield, Tristen. "Undefeated Welterweight Joey Davis to Return at Bellator 293 on March 31". Sherdog. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Joey Davis suffers first loss in Bellator 293 comeback". Orange County Register. April 1, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
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