Daniel James (born December 31, 1981) 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 ...

who competes 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 of the

Rizin Fighting Federation Rizin Fighting Federation (stylised in all caps and also known as Rizin FF) is a Japanese mixed martial arts organization created in 2015 by the former Pride Fighting Championships and Dream Stage Entertainment president Nobuyuki Sakakibara. ...

Background

Growing up on the west side of

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

, James resided in his childhood in neighbourhoods that were filled with violence and drugs. However, he was able to avoid getting involved in them through athletics and sports. He gained his nickname, "The American Predator", from his uncle due to his characteristic dreadlocks. He spends much of his free time running programs for children to keep them out of trouble. James has a very successful career as a fitness trainer at Reach Fieldhouse in Chicago, where he runs multiple fitness programs. Likewise, he travelled the world as a former celebrity bodyguard, still partaking in the endeavor from time to time, like for the rapper

Twista Carl Terrell Mitchell (born November 27, 1973), better known by his stage name Twista (also known as Tung Twista), is an American rapper. He is best known for his Chopper (rap), chopper style of rapping and for once holding the title of fastest ...

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Debuting at in 2014 at

Bellator 112 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 ...

against Erick Correa, a bout in which he won via second round retirement, James went 7–3–1 fighting around the American Midwest scene, facing such opponents like

Daniel Gallemore Daniel Gallemore (born June 14, 1985) is an American professional mixed martial artist and boxing, boxer. A professional competitor since 2011, Gallemore has formerly competed for the Professional Fighters League, Titan Fighting Championship, Ti ...

. After going 2-0 in the LFA with impressive knockouts against Calyn Hull via second round knockout on September 21, 2018 at LFA 50 and Patrick Martin via TKO stoppage at the end of the first round on May 24, 2019 at LFA 67, James advanced to the finals of the LFA Heavyweight tournament against Brett Martin. However, the bout for the vacant LFA Heavyweight Championship against Martin on September 27, 2019 at LFA 77, ended in controversy as Martin missed weight for the bout coming in at 272.6 pounds, 6.6 lbs over the weight limit, and James went on to lose the bout via disqualification in the 5th round after throwing illegal knees against the fence.

Absolute Championship Akhmat

James signed with the

Absolute Championship Akhmat Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA), formerly known as Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB), is a Chechen mixed martial arts, kickboxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu organization and one of the leading promotions in Europe. To date, most events have been h ...

, making his promotional debut against Ruslan Magomedov at ACA 101: Strus vs. Nemchinov on November 15, 2019, losing the fight via unanimous decision. In his sophomore appearance against Michal Martínek on November 26, 2020 at ACA 114: Omielańczuk vs. Johnson, James would win the bout in the second round, trapping his opponent in a crucifix and finishing the bout via elbows and punches. James faced

Daniel Omielańczuk Daniel Omielańczuk (born August 31, 1982) is a Polish professional mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist and kickboxer currently competing in the Heavyweight (MMA), heavyweight division of Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW). A professional MMA c ...

on April 23, 2021 at ACA 122, losing the bout via unanimous decision. James would rebound against Tomas Pakutinskas on September 11, 2021 at ACA 128: Goncharov vs. Omielańczuk, winning the bout at the end of the first round as Pakutinskas submitted due to punches. James faced

Raphael Pessoa Raphael Pessoa (born March 9, 1989) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist who competes in the Heavyweight (MMA), Heavyweight division. He also formerly competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Ultimate Fighting Championshi ...

at November 18, 2021 at ACA 132: Johnson vs. Vakhaev, winning the bout via ground and pound TKO in the second round. In what would be his last bout with the promotion, James faced Denis Smoldarev on February 26, 2022 at ACA 136: Bukuev vs Akopyan, winning the bout via TKO stoppage in the first round.

Bellator MMA

A heavyweight bout between Davion Franklin on May 6, 2022 at Bellator 280. However, James failed an out of competition drug test and was pulled from the bout. James faced Tyrell Fortune on November 18, 2022, at Bellator 288, pulling off a comeback and finishing Fortune in the second round via ground and pound. The bout was later overturned to a no contest after James tested positive for an anabolic substance on a test before the bout. James faced Marcelo Golm on March 31, 2023 at

Bellator 293 ''Bellator 293: Golm vs. James'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator MMA that took place on March 31, 2023, at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California, United States. Background The event marked the promotion's ...

. He won the fight via technical knockout in the third round. James faced Gökhan Saricam on June 16, 2023 at Bellator 297. He lost the bout via unanimous decision. James was scheduled to face

Ali Isaev Ali Isaevich Isaev (; born 18 December 1983) is a Russian-Azerbaijani professional mixed martial artist and former amateur wrestler who competed in the Heavyweight (MMA), Heavyweight division. He has also formerly competed for Bellator MMA, Figh ...

on November 17, 2023 at

Bellator 301 ''Bellator 301: Amosov vs. Jackson'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator MMA that took place on November 17, 2023, at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The event marked the final event to air on Showtime, an ...

. The week of the event, the bout was scrapped for unknown reasons.

PFL

James was set to debut with the

Professional Fighters League The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is an American mixed martial arts league founded by venture capitalist Donn Davis in 2017 and launched in 2018, following the acquisition and restructuring of the former World Series of Fighting (WSOF) promot ...

(PFL) at PFL 1 on April 4, 2024, in a rematch against Tyrell Fortune. However, Fortune withdrew from the bout and was replaced by Marcelo Golm in a rematch bout that James won by technical knockout at the end of the first round. James missed weight, so he was fined a percentage of his purse and given a point deduction in the standings. James was then again set to rematch Fortune this time at PFL 4 on June 13, 2024, but withdrew from the bout due to an unknown reason and was replaced by Marcelo Golm. On September 17, 2024, it was announced that James tested positive for bis-(4-cyanophenyl) methanol, a metabolite of

letrozole Letrozole, sold under the brand name Femara among others, is an aromatase inhibitor medication that is used in the treatment of breast cancer for post-menopausal women. It was patented in 1986 and approved for medical use in 1996. In 2021, ...

, as the result of an out-of-competition sample collected on May 8, 2024. He was suspended for 10 months for this infraction, making him eligible to return on January 8, 2025.

Personal life

James has four children, two sons and two daughters.

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Loss , align=center, 15–8–1 (1) , Marek Samociuk , Decision (unanimous) , Rizin: Otoko Matsuri , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

, Japan , , - , Win , align=center, 15–7–1 (1) , Marcelo Golm , TKO (punches) ,

PFL 1 (2024) The ''PFL 1'' mixed martial arts event for the 2024 season of the Professional Fighters League was held on April 4, 2024, at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas, United States. This marked the first regular-season event of the ...

, , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:59 ,

San Antonio, Texas San Antonio ( ; Spanish for "Anthony of Padua, Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the List of Texas metropolitan areas, third-largest metropolitan area in Texa ...

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 14–7–1 (1) , Gökhan Saricam , Decision (unanimous) , Bellator 297 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Chicago, Illinois Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 14–6–1 (1) , Marcelo Golm , TKO (punches) ,

, , align=center, 3 , align=center, 0:26 ,

Temecula, California Temecula (; , ; Luiseño language, Luiseño: ''Temeekunga'') is a city in southwestern Riverside County, California, United States. The city had a population of 110,003 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and was Municipal corpora ...

, United States , , - , NC , align=center, , Tyrell Fortune , NC (overturned) , Bellator 288 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 0:27 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 13–6–1 , Denis Smoldarev , TKO (punches) , ACA 136 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:41 ,

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

, Russia , , - , Win , align=center, 12–6–1 ,

, TKO (punches) , ACA 132 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:14 ,

Minsk Minsk (, ; , ) is the capital and largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach (Berezina), Svislach and the now subterranean Nyamiha, Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the administra ...

, Belarus , , - , Win , align=center, 11–6–1 , Tomas Pakutinskas , TKO (submission to punch) , ACA 128 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:34 ,

, Belarus , , - , Loss , align=center, 10–6–1 ,

, Decision (unanimous) , ACA 122 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Belarus , , - , Win , align=center, , Michal Martínek , TKO (elbows and punches) , ACA 114 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 3:32 ,

Łódź Łódź is a city in central Poland and a former industrial centre. It is the capital of Łódź Voivodeship, and is located south-west of Warsaw. Łódź has a population of 655,279, making it the country's List of cities and towns in Polan ...

, Poland , , - , Loss , align=center, 9–5–1 , Ruslan Magomedov , Decision (unanimous) , ACA 101 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Warsaw Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...

, Poland , , - , Loss , align=center, 9–4–1 , Brett Martin , DQ (illegal knees) , LFA 77 , , align=center, 5 , align=center, 1:12 ,

Prior Lake, Minnesota Prior Lake is an exurban city southwest of Minneapolis, next to Savage and Shakopee in Scott County in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Surrounding the shores of Lower and Upper Prior Lake, the city is south of the Minnesota River in an area k ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 9–3–1 , Patrick Martin , TKO (punches) , LFA 67 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:45 ,

Branson, Missouri Branson is a city in the U.S. state of Missouri. Most of the city is situated in Taney County, Missouri, Taney County, with a small portion in the west extending into Stone County, Missouri, Stone County. Branson is in the Ozarks, Ozark Mountain ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 8–3–1 , Calyn Hull , KO (punches) , LFA 50 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 0:32 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 7–3–1 , Zach Rosol , Submission (kimura) , Victory FC: Fight Night Waterloo 2 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 4:58 ,

Waterloo, Iowa Waterloo is a city in and the county seat of Black Hawk County, Iowa, Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2020 United States census the population was 67,314, making it the List of cities in Iowa, eighth-most populous city in the st ...

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 6–3–1 ,

, Submission (guillotine choke) , Victory FC 57 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:24 ,

Topeka, Kansas Topeka ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, in northeastern Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2020 cen ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 6–2–1 , Chris Beal , TKO (punches) , Xtreme Fighting Organization 60 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 0:38 ,

, United States , , - , Draw , align=center, 5–2–1 , John Hawk , Draw (majority) , Big Guns 21 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Tallmadge, Ohio Tallmadge ( ) is a city in eastern Summit County, Ohio, Summit County, Ohio, United States, with a small district in neighboring Portage County, Ohio, Portage County. It is a suburb of Akron, Ohio, Akron and part of the Akron metropolitan area. T ...

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 5–2 ,

Arnold Adams Arnold Adams (born July 9, 1985) is an American mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer. He currently competes in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, where he is the inaugural and a two-time BKFC Heavyweight Champion. As of April 4, 202 ...

, TKO (punches) , Hossier FC 27 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:06 ,

Michigan City, Indiana Michigan City is a city in LaPorte County, Indiana, United States. It had a population of 32,075 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located along Lake Michigan in the Michiana region, the city is about east of Chicago and is west o ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 5–1 , Pat Harman , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Hossier FC 25 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:33 ,

Hammond, Indiana Hammond ( ) is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. Located along Lake Michigan, it is part of the Chicago metropolitan area and the only city in Indiana to border Chicago. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the Li ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 4–1 , Jason Walraven , Submission (kimura) , Super Brawl Showdown 1 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:55 ,

Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 3–1 , Aaron Ware , Decision (unanimous) , Xtreme Fighting Organization 54 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 2–1 , Ryan Pokryfky , TKO (punches) , Xtreme Fighting Organization 53 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 3:38 ,

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 1–1 , Leroy Johnson , Decision (unanimous) , NAAFS: Fight Night In The Flats 10 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–United States border, Canada–U.S. maritime border ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Erick Correa , TKO (retirement) ,

, , align=center, 2 , align=center, 4:30 ,

, United States , , -

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:James, Daniel 1981 births Living people American male mixed martial artists Doping cases in mixed martial arts Heavyweight mixed martial artists Bellator male fighters