HONOLULU – Joey Davis is confident his talents stand up right next to the very best welterweights Bellator has to offer. He’s ready to prove it, but said it falls on the Bellator brass and top-ranked names to make it happen.
Davis (7-0 MMA, 7-0 BMMA), who is among the top blue-chip prospects in the sport, continued the undefeated start to his career Friday when he defeated Chris Cisneros (17-10 MMA, 0-3 BMMA) by first-round TKO at Bellator 235, which went down at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Hawaii.
The former amateur wrestling standout, who famously went 133-0 in his collegiate career, was listed as high as a -2000 betting favorite for the matchup. His performance showed why, and pleas from fans for a bigger test followed. Davis said he’s ready for it, but said the onus doesn’t fall on him to bring that to reality.
“I guess if the top guys want to fight me they’ve got to sign the contract,” Davis told MMA Junkie post-fight at Bellator 235. “I’m here to be the best. I will be champion eventually. When my time comes it’s going to come. Do those top guys want to fight me? That was a question you should be asking them, because I’m the one they should be worrying out for. I’m the young prospect, I’m the one that came with a great background. I need to get back to the drawing board. I’m only 7-0 in the sport. That’s very young. I’m happy with tonight, but I want to get better.”
MMA is a game of constant evolution, and at just 25, Davis thinks he still has significant room for growth. He already sees himself as ahead of the pack, though, and his goal is to create as much distance between his counterparts as possible.
“Where I stand, I know that my skillset is the best in the division,” Davis said. “I know that if I go against the top three guys right now, they will have trouble with me. If I’m in the best shape, if I’m in the gym, if I have no injuries and I’m good to go, I’ll be a tough one to deal with. I said that when I first signed with Bellator. That’s just my mind and determination and who I am as a champion.”
Joey Davis after Bellator 235 win: 'My skillset is the best in the division'
