Josh Appelt is an American

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

currently competing in the

Heavyweight Heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports and professional wrestling. Boxing Professional Male boxers who weigh over are considered heavyweights by 2 of the 4 major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation an ...

division. A professional competitor since 2009, he has competed for

Bellator Bellator, warrior in Latin, may refer to: * Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States * Bishop Bellator of Sufetula (5th century) Taxonomy * ''Bellator'' (fish), a fish genus in the family Triglidae (sea robins) ** ...

and

King of the Cage King of the Cage (KOTC) is a mixed martial arts promotion based in Southern California, United States. History KOTC was founded in 1998 by Terry Trebilcock Jr. KOTC features mostly amateur as well as up and coming MMA stars and former mainstre ...

Background

Born and raised in

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, Appelt wrestled in high school, competing in the state tournament twice during his junior and senior seasons. Appelt was originally introduced to

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...

through fellow competitor Dave Huckaba, who Appelt helped with grappling during a training camp for a fight. A few months later, Appelt embarked upon his own career in MMA.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career: Gladiator Challenge

Appelt started his career in 2009. He fought mainly for

-based promotion ''Gladiator Challenge''. Appelt faced Angel DeAnda on July 17, 2010 for the Gladiator Challenge Heavyweight Championship. Appelt was defeated for the first time in his career via first-round TKO. Appelt fought once again for the title on December 11, 2010 against Rob Jackson. Appelt won via TKO in the first round to become the new Gladiator Challenge Heavyweight Champion. In 2012, with an overall record of 7-2, Appelt signed with

Bellator

Appelt made his promotional debut against Ed Carpenter on November 2, 2012 at Bellator 79. He won via submission in the first round. Appelt faced Josh Lanier on February 28, 2013 at Bellator 91. He won via TKO in the second round. Just a week after his bout against Lanier, Appelt replaced Maurice Jackson against Manny Lara on March 7, 2013 at

Bellator 92 2013 in Bellator MMA was the eighth installment of the Bellator MMA, which began on January 17, 2013 and ended on April 4, 2013. Mixed martial arts tournaments were held in five weight classes and all of the champions, except the heavyweight ch ...

. He won via unanimous decision. Applet lost his last Bellator fight against Freddie Aquintania on April 4, 2014. Following the loss, Applet suffered two more defeats fighting in WFC. On August 29, 2016, it was announced that Applet will face

Bobby Lashley Franklin Roberto Lashley (born July 16, 1976) is an American professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a member of The Hurt Syndicate and is one-half of the AEW World Tag Team C ...

on October 21, 2016 at Bellator 162 after he picked up two consecutive wins fighting in WFC. Applet lost the fight via rear-naked choke submission in the second round.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

*Gladiator Challenge **Gladiator Challenge Heavyweight Championship (Two times; current) **One Successful Title Defense *West Coast Fighting Championship **WFC Heavyweight Championship (One time, current)

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Loss , align=center, 15–7 , Jeff Hughes , TKO (punches) , Dana White's Contender Series 14 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:26 ,

Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...

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Shannon Ritch Shannon Ritch (born September 27, 1970) is an American professional mixed martial artist, boxer, grappler, professional wrestler and kickboxer. In mixed martial arts competition he is the former King of the Cage Middleweight Champion and the in ...

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Lincoln, California Lincoln is a city in Placer County, California, United States, part of the Sacramento, California, Sacramento metropolitan area. Located north of Roseville, California, Roseville in an area of rapid suburban development, it grew 282 percent b ...

, United States , Defended Gladiator Challenge Heavyweight Championship. , - , Win , align=center, 13-6 , Ben Beebe , TKO (punches) , Gladiator Challenge: Mega Brawl , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:09 ,

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, Submission (rear-naked choke) , Bellator 162 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:43 ,

Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...

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Sacramento, California Sacramento ( or ; ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat, seat of Sacramento County, California, Sacramento County. Located at the confluence of the Sacramento Rive ...

, United States , Won the vacant WFC Heavyweight Championship. , - , Win , align=center, 11–5 , Joe Hernandez , TKO (punches) , WFC 15: Griffin vs. Wallace , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:58 ,

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 10–5 , Josue Lugo , TKO (punches) , WFC 13: Huckaba vs.Mitchell , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:14 ,

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 10–4 , Carl Seumanutafa , Decision (unanimous) , West Coast Fighting Championship 12 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 10–3 , Freddie Aquitania , Decision (unanimous) ,

Bellator 115 2014 in Bellator MMA was the tenth season for Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion. It began on February 28, 2014 and aired on Spike TV. The season included tournaments for the Heavyweight, Welterweight, Featherweight, Light Heavyweight ...

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Reno, Nevada Reno ( ) is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada–California border. It is the county seat and most populous city of Washoe County, Nevada, Washoe County. Sitting in the High Eastern Sierra foothills, ...

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 9–2 , Josh Lanier , TKO (punches) , Bellator 91 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 0:16 ,

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 8–2 , Ed Carpenter , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Bellator 79 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:20 ,

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, Canada , , - , Win , align=center, 7–2 , C.J. Leveque , TKO (punches) , West Coast Fighting Championship: Showdown , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:43 ,

Yuba City, California Yuba City ( Maidu: ''Yubu'') is a city in Northern California and the county seat of Sutter County, California Sutter County is a county (United States), county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States census, ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 6–2 , Rob Jackson , TKO (punches) , Gladiator Challenge: Mega Stars , , align=center, 1 , align=center, N/A ,

, United States , Won the Gladiator Challenge Heavyweight Championship. , - , Win , align=center, 5–2 , Robert Laroski , KO (punch) , Gladiator Challenge: Unleashed , , align=center, 1 , align=center, N/A ,

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 4–2 , C.J. Leveque , Decision (unanimous) , Rebel Fights , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:00 ,

Plymouth, California Plymouth (formerly Puckerville, Pokerville, and Poker Camp) is a city in Amador County, California, United States. The population was 1,078 at the 2020 census. The town was originally named Pokerville, when it was settled during the time of the ...

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 4–1 , Angel DeAnda , TKO (punches) , Gladiator Challenge: Patriots , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:56 ,

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, United States , For the Gladiator Challenge Heavyweight Championship. , - , Win , align=center, 4–0 , Marcus Osbourn , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Gladiator Challenge: Champions , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:39 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 3–0 , Keith Corum , TKO (punches) , Battle of the Valley 2 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 2:36 ,

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Michael Woodworth , Decision (unanimous) , Gladiator Challenge: Validation , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Roseville, California Roseville is the most populous city in Placer County, California, located within the Sacramento metropolitan area. As of 2019, the United States Census Bureau, US Census Bureau estimated the city's population to be 141,500, making it the third-l ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Mike Martin , TKO (punches) , Gladiator Challenge: Put Up or Shut Up , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:48 ,

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Appelt, Josh Living people Sportspeople from Yuba City, California American male mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists from California Heavyweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing wrestling 1983 births