Joseph Angel Soto was born on March 22,1987 and is an American professional mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
39 Facts About Joe Soto
1.
2.
At the time Joe 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.
3.
Joe Soto grew up in a very religious Pentecostal family, attending church with his family weekly.
4.
Joe Soto started wrestling in junior high 8th grade and played pop warner football.
5.
Joe Soto went to Porterville High School in California where he was on the wrestling team and won a California state title.
6.
Joe Soto got an athletic scholarship to Iowa Central Community College was a 2x NJCAA All-American.
7.
Joe Soto began training mixed martial arts after meeting another fighter who agreed to train him in his garage.
Related searches
Chad George Anthony Birchak Michinori Tanaka Russell Doane Chris Beal Rani Yahya Brett Johns 8.
Joe Soto began training and took his first fight at a Gladiator Challenge event.
9.
Joe Soto won the fight midway in the first round via technical knockout.
10.
Joe Soto joined Bellator by entering their Season One Featherweight Tournament.
11.
Joe Soto made his debut defeating Ben Greer at Bellator 1.
12.
Joe Soto won the fight by submission in the second round and became the first Bellator Featherweight Champion.
13.
At Bellator 19, Joe Soto fought Diego Saraiva in a "Super Fight".
14.
Joe Soto won the fight after cage side doctors said Saraiva was unable to continue because of a cut on his forehead.
15.
Bellator promoter, Bjorn Rebney, stated that Joe Soto was eligible to drop down a weight class for Bellator's Season Five Bantamweight Tournament with a win at Tachi Palace Fights 10.
16.
Joe Soto lost to Eddie Yagin by first-round submission, and was replaced in the tournament.
17.
In January 2012 Joe Soto picked up a win over Chris David and was signed to fight for Tachi Palace Fights.
18.
Joe Soto fought his first TPF fight on May 10,2012, against former WEC fighter, Chad George.
19.
Joe Soto was expected to face Anthony Birchak on August 30,2014, at UFC 177.
20.
Joe Soto lost the fight via knockout in the fifth round.
21.
Joe Soto lost the fight via knockout in the first round.
22.
Joe Soto faced Michinori Tanaka on January 2,2016, at UFC 195, filling in for an injured Russell Doane.
23.
Joe Soto next faced Chris Beal on June 18,2016, at UFC Fight Night 89.
24.
Joe Soto won the back and forth fight via submission in the third round.
25.
Joe Soto was tabbed as a short notice replacement to face Marco Beltran in a catchweight bout on November 5,2016, at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale.
Related searches
Chad George Anthony Birchak Michinori Tanaka Russell Doane Chris Beal Rani Yahya Brett Johns 26.
Joe Soto won the fight via submission in the first round.
27.
Joe Soto faced Rani Yahya on March 11,2017, at UFC Fight Night 106.
28.
Joe Soto faced Brett Johns on December 1,2017, at The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale.
29.
Joe Soto lost the fight via submission in round one.
30.
Joe Soto faced Iuri Alcantara on February 3,2018, at UFC Fight Night 125.
31.
Joe Soto lost the fight via TKO due to strikes in the first round.
32.
Joe Soto entered the competition as an underdog, and his first bout was against Eddie Fyvie.
33.
Joe Soto won the bout via heel hook in the opening round.
34.
Joe Soto then progressed into the quarterfinals, where he faced 2 time EBI champion Geo Martinez.
35.
Joe Soto won the bout via quickest escape time during overtime.
36.
Joe Soto then progressed into the semifinals, where he faced Joao Miyao.
37.
Joe Soto won the bout via quickest escape time during overtime.
38.
Joe Soto then progressed to the finals, where he faced leg lock specialist and favourite of the competition Eddie Cummings.
39.
Joe Soto defended many of Cummings' leg lock attempts for several minutes until finally succumbing to a heel hook.