Joel Malcolm Davis (born December 29, 1993) is an American professional

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 ...

and graduated folkstyle wrestler who currently competes in the welterweight division. As a wrestler at Notre Dame College, he was the only four-time undefeated NCAA Division II National Champion in history and one of the three to do so across all

NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...

divisions.

Wrestling career

High school

Born in

Compton, California Compton is a city located in the Gateway Cities region of southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, situated south of downtown Los Angeles. Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county, and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth ci ...

, Davis attended Santa Fe High School, where he was a two-sport athlete, playing

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

and competing in

wrestling Wrestling is a martial art, combat sport, and form of entertainment that involves grappling with an opponent and striving to obtain a position of advantage through different throws or techniques, within a given ruleset. Wrestling involves di ...

. He started wrestling at age five, and he was a CIF state finalist his

sophomore In the United States, a sophomore ( or ) is a person in the second year at an educational institution; usually at a secondary school or at the college and university level, but also in other forms of Post-secondary school, post-secondary educatio ...

year and state champion in his junior and

senior Senior (shortened as Sr.) means "the elder" in Latin and is often used as a suffix for the elder of two or more people in the same family with the same given name, usually a parent or grandparent. It may also refer to: * Senior (name), a surname ...

seasons as a high schooler. Nationally, he was a two-time FloNationals champion and a Reno champion. Davis was an

NCAA Division I NCAA Division I (D-I) is the highest division of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States, which accepts players globally. D-I schools include the major collegiate athlet ...

recruit as a football player, however, he chose to wrestle.

College

After graduating from high school, Davis committed to wrestle at Notre Dame College. Davis finished his true

freshman A freshman, fresher, first year, or colloquially frosh, is a person in the first year at an educational institution, usually a secondary school or at the college and university level, but also in other forms of post-secondary educational in ...

season with 33 victories and no defeats and an NCAA title at 165 pounds. After moving up to 174 pounds, Davis compiled 35 more wins and closed the season undefeated, claiming titles from the Clarion Knight Point Open, Michigan State Open, Cleveland State Open, University of Indianapolis Greyhound Open, NCAA Division II Super Region I and the NCAA National Championship. As a junior, he compiled a record of 38–0 and won his third NCAA Division II National title. In his fourth and last season, Davis was able to close the show with a National title at 184 pounds and the Outstanding Wrestler Award, finishing his overall career with 133 wins and no losses. Davis is one of the three undefeated four-time NCAA champions, sharing the podium with Cael Sanderson (159–0) from Division I and Marcus LeVesseur (155–0) from Division III.

Freestyle

In May 2016, Davis competed at the annual Beat The Streets event, named ''Salsa in the Square''. He faced three-time NCAA Division I Champion and Dan Hodge Trophy winner

Alex Dieringer Alex David Dieringer (born June 6, 1993) is an American Freestyle wrestling, freestyle wrestler and graduated Collegiate wrestling, folkstyle wrestler. In freestyle, he has had success in both the international and national circuit, claiming med ...

. He lost the match by points, being outscored 9 points to none.

Mixed martial arts career

Davis started competing in

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 ...

while he was still competing in college, amassing an undefeated record of 5 wins and no losses.

Bellator MMA

Davis signed with

Bellator MMA Bellator MMA (formerly Bellator Fighting Championships) was an American mixed martial arts promotion (entertainment), promotion founded in 2008 by Bjorn Rebney and operated until 2025. The promotion takes its name from ''wikt:bellator, bellātor ...

in June 2016, months after his last

season in college. Davis made his professional debut at an 175-pound catchweight bout against Keith Cutrone on August 26, 2016, at Bellator 160. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Davis faced Justin Roswell on August 25, 2017, at Bellator 182 (a year later his previous bout). He won the fight by technical-knockout in the first round. Davis faced Ian Butler on January 20, 2018, at Bellator 192. He won the fight by knockout 39 seconds into the first round. Davis faced Craig Plaskett on June 29, 2018, at Bellator 201. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Davis was scheduled to face Jesse Merritton on March 29, 2019, at Bellator 219. However, Merritton withdrew from the event and was replaced by Marcus Anthony. Davis won the fight by knockout in the first round. Davis faced Jeff Peterson on October 9, 2019, at Bellator 229. He won the fight by knockout in a minute into the first round. Davis faced Chris Cisneros on December 20, 2019, at Bellator 235. He won the fight by technical-knockout in the first round. Davis faced promotional newcomer Bobby Lee on November 19, at Bellator 253. He won the fight by unanimous decision. After a 2.5 year layoff, Davis made his return against Jeff Creighton 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 ...

. Despite being a 14-to-1 favorite, Davis lost the bout via split decision.

Awards and accomplishments

May 17, 2025 Joey Davis was inducted into the California Wrestling Hall

Folkstyle wrestling

National Collegiate Athletic Association The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...

Division II 165 lb National Champion out of Notre Dame College (2013) **

Division II 174 lb National Champion out of Notre Dame College (2014) **

Division II 174 lb National Champion out of Notre Dame College (2015) **

Division II 184 lb National Champion out of Notre Dame College (2016)

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Loss , align=center, 8–1 , Jeff Creighton , Decision (split) ,

, , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

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 , , - , Win , align=center, 8–0 , Bobby Lee , Decision (unanimous) , Bellator 253 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Uncasville, Connecticut Uncasville is a village in the town of Montville, Connecticut, United States. It is located in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River where it flows into the Thames River. The name is now applied more generally to all of the ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 7–0 , Chris Cisneros , TKO (punches) , Bellator 235 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:55 ,

Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the county seat of the Consolidated city-county, consolidated City and County of Honol ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 6–0 , Jeffrey Peterson , KO (flying knee) , Bellator 229 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:00 ,

Temecula Temecula (; , ; Luiseño: ''Temeekunga'') is a city in southwestern Riverside County, California, United States. The city had a population of 110,003 as of the 2020 census and was incorporated on December 1, 1989. The city is a tourist and ...

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 ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 5–0 , Marcus Anthony , KO (punch) , Bellator 219 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:21 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 4–0 , Craig Plaskett , Decision (unanimous) , Bellator 201 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 3–0 , Ian Butler , KO (spinning back kick) , Bellator 192 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:39 ,

Inglewood, California Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, United States, in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, the city had a population of 107,762. ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Justin Roswell , TKO (elbows) , Bellator 182 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:35 , Verona, New York, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Keith Cutrone , Decision (unanimous) , Bellator 160 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Anaheim, California Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, United States, part of the Greater Los Angeles area. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orang ...

, United States ,

NCAA record

! colspan="8", NCAA Division II Championships Matches , - ! Res. ! Record ! Opponent ! Score ! Date ! Event , - ! style=background:white colspan=6 , 2016 NCAA (DII) Championships at 184 lbs , - , Win , 16–0 , align=left, Travis Mckillop , style="font-size:88%", 3–1 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4, March 11–12, 2016 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4, 2016 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships , - , Win , 15–0 , align=left, Jacob Waste , style="font-size:88%", 3–2 , - , Win , 14–0 , align=left, Nick Burghardt , style="font-size:88%", 8–2 , - , Win , 13–0 , align=left, Brandon Supernaw , style="font-size:88%", MD 13–5 , - ! style=background:white colspan=6 , 2015 NCAA (DII) Championships at 174 lbs , - , Win , 12–0 , align=left, Zeb Wahle , style="font-size:88%", 4–2 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4, March 13–14, 2015 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4, 2015 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships , - , Win , 11–0 , align=left, John Blankenship , style="font-size:88%", 7–4 , - , Win , 10–0 , align=left, Terrence Zaleski , style="font-size:88%", 4–2 , - , Win , 9–0 , align=left, Caleb Copeland , style="font-size:88%", MD 14–5 , - ! style=background:white colspan=6 , 2014 NCAA (DII) Championships at 174 lbs , - , Win , 8–0 , align=left, Adam Walters , style="font-size:88%", 4–1 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4, March 14–15, 2014 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4, 2014 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships , - , Win , 7–0 , align=left, Patrick Martinez , style="font-size:88%", 5–2 , - , Win , 6–0 , align=left, Trevor Grant , style="font-size:88%", Fall , - , Win , 5–0 , align=left, Conner Monk , style="font-size:88%", Fall , - ! style=background:white colspan=6 , 2013 NCAA (DII) Championships at 165 lbs , - , Win , 4–0 , align=left, Chase Nelson , style="font-size:88%", 7–5 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4, March 8–9, 2013 , style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4, 2013 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships , - , Win , 3–0 , align=left, Isaiah Jimenez , style="font-size:88%", MD 11–2 , - , Win , 2–0 , align=left, Justin Samora , style="font-size:88%", MD 18–4 , - , Win , 1–0 , align=left, Wade Gobin , style="font-size:88%", 11–7 , -

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Joey Living people American male sport wrestlers American male mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing collegiate wrestling Mixed martial artists utilizing freestyle wrestling 1993 births Santa Fe High School (California) alumni 21st-century American sportsmen