Bellator 284 video: Wrestling standout Pat Downey runs through opponent in MMA debut

Pat Downey’s MMA debut Saturday was years in the making – and it only lasted 36 seconds.

At Bellator 284, Downey (1-0 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) ran through opponent Keyes Nelson (0-4 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) in a 36-second submission victory. The event took place Saturday at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Downey, a former NCAA Division I All-American wrestler, went for the takedown immediately at the start of the fight. Two double underhooks later, he secured a grip and dumped Nelson to the canvas. After a few seconds in side control, Downey powerfully tore into the mount position. With Nelson mounted, Downey locked in an arm-triangle choke and squeezed. The tap came shortly thereafter.

In his post-fight interview, Downey declared he is coming for everyone in the Bellator middleweight division. He then celebrated with his lone cornerman, former UFC fighter Luis Pena.

That’s how you make an 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁!

36 seconds is all it took @PatDowney to get the W inside the Bellator cage. Talk about a spectacular debut.

Tune in to the #Bellator284 prelims, brought to you by @MonsterEnergy and fueled by @Cardenas_Market.

https://t.co/Ht9tHlZcDo pic.twitter.com/zsi6ZVXJKn

— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) August 12, 2022

Downey, 30, publicly planned a transition into MMA since 2020. A massive talent on the mats, Downey was a polarizing figure away from them.

Legal issues and social media controversies caused a butting of heads with the wrestling community, which Downey claimed “canceled” him as a result. Downey told MMA Junkie in February he had no regrets about his time in wrestling but hoped to live up to his true potential in MMA.

The up-to-the-minute Bellator 284 results include:

• Pat Downey def. Keyes Nelson via submission (arm triangle choke) – Round 1, 0:36
• Bailey Schoenfelder def. Mark Currier via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:35
• Mitchell McKee def. Tony Ortega via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:28