Bellator cuts NCAA wrestling standout Pat Downey after 1-1 start to MMA career

Former NCAA wrestling standout Pat Downey is no longer on the Bellator roster.

Bellator officials Friday informed MMA Junkie the promotion recently cut Downey (1-1 MMA, 1-1 BMMA), a 30-year-old middleweight fighter with a lengthy wrestling resume, from its roster.

At the time of his official MMA pivot and Bellator signing in January 2021, Downey was a highly accomplished collegiate wrestler who had focused in recent years on Olympic notoriety. Downey was a 2019 Pan American Games medalist, a 2019 US Open National champion, a one-time NCAA Division I All-American, and an NCJAA champion. A controversial figure in the wrestling community, Downey admitted he left the sport with a sour taste in his mouth and pointed to “cancel culture” as a reason why,

Downey debuted for Bellator in August at Bellator 284 when he trucked through opponent Keyes Nelson for a 34-second arm-triangle submission win. In December, Downey returned as -1976 favorite (on average across major online sports books, per Best Fight Odds) at Bellator 289. He was knocked out by Christian Echols (then 2-2) in Round 1.