Pat Downey is an NCAA All-American and probably the most polarizing figure in wrestling, and now he’s signed a professional MMA contract with Bellator as well. It’s been coming for quite some time as Downey, as he first mentioned that he would be making the transition over to MMA all the way back in 2018 and was even scheduled to make his amateur debut in 2019 as well, although that bout never materialized. Downey has definitely been working on the skills he’ll need to make the change in sports though as he’s been competing reasonably regularly on the professional BJJ scene since then.
It all started with an unsuccessful fight against Gordon Ryan where he was clearly overmatched, quickly followed by a much more appropriate matchup against Rasheed Perez at Subversiv 5. There he was able to show the elite level of wrestling ability he possesses by dominating his opponent from top position and winning a clear-cut decision victory. He also made an appearance at the Third Coast Grappling 7 grand prix but was heelhooked relatively quickly in the first round by IBJJF purple and brown belt world champion Pedro Marinho.
Downey also made a run at ADCC glory in the over 99kg division of the ADCC North American East Coast trials, where he managed to make it as far as the quarter-finals before losing to eventual silver medalist Damon Ramos. Although he might not be a world champion level Jiu-Jitsu competitor just yet, it’s clear that Pat Downey is working hard to add submission skills to his already formidable wrestling base and provided he is putting the same level of work into his striking, his eventual professional debut for Bellator should go relatively well.
Leading MMA journalist Ariel Helwani announced the news that Pat Downey had signed a professional MMA contract with Bellator in a post to his official twitter account:
Pat Downey, the American freestyle wrestler and former D1 All-American, has signed w/ Bellator.
He’ll make his MMA debut with the promotion later this year. Big upside talent-wise and has an entertaining personality. He was known as one more of the more polarizing wrestlers.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 7, 2022
He’ll fight at 185 pounds.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 7, 2022
