Take a peek at the Bellator history books and you’ll see Joe Soto’s name etched in the early chapters.
Back in 2009 when the budding promotion was making a name for itself with tournaments featuring undiscovered talent from across the globe, Soto beat three men in three months to become the first-ever Bellator featherweight champion. At the time, Soto was 22 years old with just seven pro bouts on his resume.
That triumph was part of a 9-0 start to Soto’s career, and in his first setback he dropped the title to future Bellator stalwart Joe Warren.