Joe Soto
| Joe Soto | |
|---|---|
| Born |
March 22, 1987 Porterville, California, United States |
| Other names | One Bad Mofo The Hammer (formerly) |
| Residence | Santa Rosa, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Weight | 135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st) |
| Division |
Featherweight (formerly), Bantamweight |
| Reach | 65.0 in (165 cm) |
| Style | Boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Fighting out of | Santa Rosa, California, United States |
| Team | Nor-Cal Fighting Alliance |
| Rank | Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Dave Terrell |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 22 |
| Wins | 17 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| By submission | 10 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Losses | 5 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Notable school(s) | Iowa Central Community College |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Joseph Angel Soto (born March 22, 1987 in Porterville, California) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2006, Soto has also formerly competed for Bellator where he was the first Bellator Featherweight Champion and winner of their inaugural Featherweight Tournament.
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. Soto went to Porterville High School in California where he was on the wrestling team. 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.
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 Championships.
Soto joined Bellator by entering their Season One Featherweight Tournament. Soto 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. Despite being a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and the only EliteXC Featherweight Champion, Reis could never get the fight to the ground.
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