Joe Soto | UFC Fighter, Former Bellator Champion, Gym Owner, CA State Wrestling Champion

The Freedom First Podcast

Episode 24 w/ @joesoto135
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Joe Soto fought at the bantamweight division in the UFC. A professional competitor since 2006, Soto has also formerly competed for Bellator Fighting Championships, where he was the inaugural Bellator Featherweight World Champion and first ever winner of their Featherweight Tournament, and for Tachi Palace Fights where he is the former Tachi Palace Fights Bantamweight Champion.
At the time Soto was born, the fourth son, his parents were struggling financially, with his father working as a garbage man and his mother as a house cleaner. Soto went to Porterville High School in Porterville, California where he was on the wrestling team and won a California state title under coach Tim Vanni. Soto got an athletic scholarship to Iowa Central Community College where he was a 2x NJCAA All-American. There, Soto wrestled with @jonnybones and @colbycovmma . Soto, Jones and Covington were also roommates during their freshmen and sophomore years.
Soto began training mixed martial arts after meeting Paul Estrada who agreed to train him in his garage. Soto began training and took his first fight at a Gladiator Challenge event. Soto won the fight midway in the first round via technical knockout. Soto compiled a 4-0 record before getting signed to Bellator Fighting Championships (@bellatormma). In August 2014 Soto signed a deal with the UFC. Soto was expected to face Anthony Birchak on August 30, 2014 at UFC 177. However, the day of the weigh-ins, @renanbaraoufc had to be admitted to the hospital as a result of his attempts to cut weight. Soto stepped up and faced champion @tjdillashaw in the main event. Soto recently opened up a wrestling and MMA gym in Porterville, CA called @cencalsportsandfitness
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