Former Bellator featherweight champion Joe Soto just can't catch any breaks. Once adorned as one of the best featherweights in the world, Soto's fairytale run towards the title in Bellator came to an abrupt halt by one Mr. Joe Warren. The Olympian hopeful was battered in the first round when the two dynamic competitors met at Bellator 27 on September 2, with the title up for grabs. Every time Warren came forward engaging Soto to clinch, Joe stung him with hooks and uppercuts in succession. It looked like it was only just a matter of time, before Warren pulled out a hail mary right hook which clipped Soto, followed with punches, a big knee against the fence and another punch that sent Soto to sleep, and claimed Warren the biggest win of his career, and a shiny belt to show for his efforts. Now, after losing his title, his mother in a car accident last Christmas, Soto may now be losing vision in his eye following a detached retina. ...

Japan, eat your heart out. Your boy Joe Warren is making a name for himself, elsewhere. Joe Soto, arguably a top-10 caliber fighter, looked every bit of that in the opening frame against the Olympic wrestling hopeful in their 145-pound clash at Bellator 27, just yesterday. After staggering Warren numerous times on the feet with effective close-quarters boxing, it looked like the end was imminent and Soto was in control. I guess somebody just forgot to tell Warren that. ...

A featherweight title fight in September apparently won't stop the Joe Warren train from booking a second fight, overseas at that, in the same month. The aforementioned featherweight will be facing Bellator 145-pound champion Joe Soto on September 2. in San Antonio, Tex. for the title. Earning his crack at the belt, Warren fought his way through the season two, 8-man featherweight tourney, after claiming victories over Eric Marriott, Georgi Karakhanyan, and finally a split decision over the previously undefeated Patricio Freire for the season's $100,000 check and number one contenders spot. ...

"New York Bad Ass" Phil Baroni (13-10) extended his "W" streak to three with a one-sided UD over Mexican welterweight Olaf Alfonso (7-9) Friday night in Lemoore, southeast of San Francisco. Baroni got cut early, but tagged Alfonso with punches and floored him with takedowns the majority of the fight. Bryan Travers (11-1) picked up the Palace Fighting Championship welterweight title with a close UD over Jeremiah Metcalf (9-6) by scores of 48-47 on all three judges' score cards. Shawn Klarcyk (9-2) defended his PFC Bantamweight Championship from Brandon Miller (3-3) by armbar at 2:19 of round two. PFC Lightweight Champion Brian Cobb (13-4) also fought off David Gardner's (14-10) advances on his gold in a UD by scores of 50-45 from all three judges. ...