Darrion Caldwell (born December 19, 1987) is an American retired mixed martial artist and graduated collegiate wrestler, who competed in the bantamweight division.
[4] As a folkstyle wrestler, Caldwell was the 2009 NCAA Division I National Champion, and a two-time All-American at 149 pounds out of the North Carolina State University.
He was a two-time All-Region football player, but had his most success on the wrestling mats, as he had a record of 148-4 (three losses came as a freshman), and compiled three NJSIAA championships.
[5] Entering the NCAA championships unseeded, he opened up with a fall over the ninth seed and a forfeit over the eight seed, but was subsequently downed by the undefeated top-seed and ultimately eliminated by eventual NCAA champion J. Jaggers, missing All-American status.
[7] As a sophomore, he compiled 36 wins and 5 losses and also won the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational during regular season.
[10] As a junior, he compiled 38 wins and a lone loss that was an injury default, putting on one of the most outstanding seasons in the history of the program.
At the tournament, he opened up with two wins over unranked opponents (one of them would go on to become a UFC fighter, Desmond Green) and two more victories over seeded opponents (all four matches with bonus points) to make it to the finale, where he faced the returning Dan Hodge Trophy winner Brent Metcalf.
He would end up easily beating Metcalf 11–6 in one of the most iconic matches in NCAA Division I history to claim the championship and earn the Outstanding Wrestler award.
He compiled 15 wins and a lone loss and became a four-time Conference champion[13] before the shoulder injury resurged during his second match at the NCAA's (where he was the top-seed).
In his final senior freestyle competition, Caldwell competed at the 2012 US Olympic Team Trials Challenge, where he once again did not place and became an MMA fighter shortly after.
[18] Caldwell made his MMA and promotional debut against David Armas at Legacy FC 14 on September 14, 2012.
[19] In his second professional fight, Caldwell met Quaint Kempf at Legacy FC 16 on December 14, 2012.
He won the fight via TKO after dropping Kempf with a left hand and unloading with a series of punches on the ground.
Caldwell dominated the fight, winning via technical submission due to a rear-naked choke in the first round.
[38] In the first defense of his title, Caldwell faced Leandro Higo on March 2, 2018 in the main event at Bellator 195.
[40] In August 2018, Caldwell moved up to featherweight and faced Noad Lahat in a non-title fight at Bellator 204 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Caldwell faced Henry Corrales in the opening round of the tournament at Bellator 228 on September 28.
In the last seconds of his 2009 NCAA championship match against Brent Metcalf, Caldwell attempted to celebrate early with a handspring and backflip.
[61] After defeating Shawn Bunch at Bellator 143 in 2015, Caldwell did a backflip off the cage and landed on a camerawoman, whose shot was live at the time.