Davion Franklin
Davion Franklin | |
---|---|
Born | Chicago, Illinois, United States | June 21, 1994
Other names | All Day |
Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
Weight | 265 lb (120 kg; 18 st 13 lb) |
Division | Heavyweight |
Reach | 80 in (203 cm) |
Fighting out of | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
Team | Jackson Wink MMA Academy |
Years active | 2020–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 8 |
Wins | 6 |
By knockout | 3 |
By submission | 0 |
By decision | 3 |
Losses | 2 |
By knockout | 1 |
By submission | 1 |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Davion Robby Franklin (born June 21, 1994)[1] is an American mixed martial artist competing in Bellator MMA. Signed directly to Bellator without amateur experience, Franklin has fought all 8 of his Mixed Martial Arts bouts within the promotion.
Mixed martial arts career
[edit]Signing with Bellator MMA
[edit]A recipient of the Jackson Wink/Mata Leon scholarship in 2019, Franklin signed with Bellator after just 7 months of training in mixed-rules.[2] His MMA debut was scheduled for November 19, 2019, at Bellator 233: Salter vs. van Steenis at the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma, but the intended opponent, Christian Adams, withdrew due to injury.[3]
Bellator 239
[edit]In January, 2020 it was revealed Franklin's MMA debut had been rescheduled for the Bellator 239: Ruth vs Amosov prelims at the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma[4] February 21 vs JW Kiser, who had a 5-2 professional record and was coming off 4 straight wins.[5] The fight lasted just 100 seconds, with Franklin's ground and pound finishing the contest.[6] The prelim bouts aired on Bellator's YouTube channel.[7]
Bellator 246
[edit]Franklin made his return to the cage on the Bellator 246: Mix vs Archuleta prelims at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut September 12, 2020, vs Ras Hylton. Franklin weighed in at 264.7 lbs, Hylton at 245.5[8] At 3:23 in the third round, inadvertent strikes to the back of the head in a ground and pound situation stopped the fight, and prompted a technical decision, with all three judges scoring the fight for Franklin (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).[9] The bout aired on Bellator's YouTube channel.[10]
Bellator 259
[edit]Franklin was next booked to fight Anthony Garrett at Bellator 254: Macfarlane vs Velasquez on December 10 but Garrett wasn't cleared medically and the fight fell through.[11] Franklin's next bout would instead take place at Bellator 259: Cyborg vs Smith 2 May 21, 2021, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, versus Tyler King. Franklin - who was a massive favorite to win[12]- weighed in at 264.8 lbs, King at 246.3 lbs.[13] In the bout, Franklin dominated on the feet and stopped King in 122 seconds.[14]
Bellator 264
[edit]Franklin's next cage appearance would take place on the main card of Bellator 264: Mousasi vs Salter on August 13, 2021. He was matched with then undefeated (15-0)[15] Everett Cummings. By fight time Franklin was a fairly heavy favorite to win[16] and made short work of his opponent, getting the KO in just 21 seconds.[17] The main card aired on Showtime but the full fight has since been made available on Bellator's Youtube channel.[18]
Bellator 274
[edit]Following his opening-seconds destruction of Cummings, Franklin was booked to face Said Sowma on the main card of Bellator 274: Gracie vs. Storley February 19, 2022, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. At the time of the booking, Franklin and Sowma were tied at number 8 in the official Bellator rankings,[19] with Franklin a slight betting underdog by fight-time.[20] Sowma was coming into the fight off an upset win over the ex-champion Vitaly Minakov (via injury TKO).[21] In the fight Franklin was the aggressor, while Sowma largely employed an elusive strategy, firing off numerous low kicks in an attempt to score points while trying to evade Franklin's heavy artillery. Sowma also attempted to stuff Franklin into the cage at times to mute his attack but had limited success keeping him there. After 3 rounds, Franklin (who had landed the heavier shots) was awarded the split decision win (30–27, 29–28, 28–29)[22]
Bellator 283
[edit]Franklin was next scheduled to face Daniel James at Bellator 280: Bader vs Kongo 2 at the Accor Arena in Paris, France May 6, 2022[23] but the fight was cancelled after James tested positive for a banned substance.[24] Franklin was rebooked for Bellator 283: Lima vs Jackson July 22, 2022, at Emerald Queen Casino and Hotel in Tacoma, Washington, this time versus Marcelo Golm.[25] Franklin weighed in at 264.2, Golm at 257.6.[26] Franklin was a slight favorite heading into the bout[27] After a back and forth fight Franklin would suffer his first pro defeat when Golm secured a submission with just 24 seconds left in the fight. The bout aired on Showtime in the US.
Bellator 295
[edit]Franklin returned to the cage April 22, 2023, at Bellator 295: Stots vs Mix at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii, versus promotional newcomer Kasim Aras, a former freestyle wrestler-turned mixed-martial artist. Aras came into the fight with a 7–1 professional record with three consecutive wins.[28] Franklin was a fairly significant betting favorite to win.[29] Franklin weighed in at 259.2 lbs for the fight, Aras at 251.8 lbs.[30] After 3 rounds of action, Franklin was awarded a unanimous decision win (29–29, 29–28, 29–28).[31] The prelims aired on Bellator's Youtube channel.[32]
Bellator 300
[edit]Franklin was next scheduled to face undefeated promotional newcomer Slim Trabelsi[33] on the prelims of Bellator 300[34] Saturday October 7, at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California. Franklin lost via TKO (leg injury) at 3:09 of round 1.[35]
Mixed martial arts record
[edit]8 matches | 6 wins | 2 losses |
By knockout | 3 | 1 |
By submission | 0 | 1 |
By decision | 3 | 0 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 6–2 | Slim Trabelsi | TKO (leg injury) | Bellator 300 | October 7, 2023 | 1 | 3:09 | San Diego, California, United States | |
Win | 6–1 | Kasim Aras | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 295 | April 22, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |
Loss | 5-1 | Marcelo Golm | Submission (rear naked choke) | Bellator 283 | July 22, 2022 | 3 | 4:36 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | |
Win | 5-0 | Said Sowma | Decision (split) | Bellator 274 | February 19, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
Win | 4-0 | Everett Cummings | KO (kick and punches) | Bellator 264 | August 13, 2021 | 1 | 0:21 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
Win | 3-0 | Tyler King | KO (punches) | Bellator 259 | May 21, 2021 | 1 | 2:02 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
Win | 2-0 | Ras Hylton | Technical Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 246 | September 12, 2021 | 3 | 3:23 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
Win | 1-0 | JW Kiser | TKO (punches) | Bellator 239 | February 21, 2020 | 1 | 1:40 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Davion Franklin ("All Day") | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology.com.
- ^ "Davion Franklin: "It just worked out I got signed to Bellator in seven months of training"". mymmanews.com. 5 November 2019.
- ^ "Franklin vs Adams Tapology bout page". Tapology.com.
- ^ "Report: Three Fights Added To Bellator 239, JW Kiser In Action". fightful.com.
- ^ "JW Kiser | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology.com.
- ^ "Kiser vs Franklin Tapology bout page". Tapology.com.
- ^ "Bellator 239: Ruth vs Amosov Prelims on YouTube". YouTube.com.
- ^ "Bellator 246 weigh-in results: Two main card fighters heavy, but title challengers on weight". MMAJunkie.com. 11 September 2020.
- ^ "Bellator 246 results: Neiman Gracie submits Jon Fitch, who retires after loss". MMAJunkie.com. 13 September 2020.
- ^ "Bellator 246: Archuleta vs Mix Prelims". YouTube.com.
- ^ "Franklin vs Garrett bout page on Tapology". Tapology.com.
- ^ "Davion Franklin's Fight Odds". Bestfightodds.com.
- ^ "Bellator 259 weigh-in results: Two fighters come in heavy, including co-headliner". MMAJunkie.com. 20 May 2021.
- ^ "Franklin vs King Bout Page on Tapology". Tapology.com.
- ^ "Everett Cummings | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology.com.
- ^ "Davion Franklin's MMA Odds History". Bestfightodds.com.
- ^ "Franklin vs Cummings Bout Page on Tapology". Tapology.com.
- ^ "Full Fight Davion Franklin vs. Everett Cummings Bellator 264". Youtube.com. 15 July 2022.
- ^ "Davion Franklin to Face Said Sowma at Bellator Event on February 19". Mymmanews.com. 24 December 2021.
- ^ "Bestfightodds: Davion Franklin". Bestfightodds.com.
- ^ "Bellator 269 results: Said Sowma pulls off upset against Vitaly Minakov after former champ suffers broken finger". MMAFighting.com. 23 October 2021.
- ^ "MMADecisions: Davion Franklin vs Said Sowma". MMADecisions.com.
- ^ "Unbeaten heavyweight Davion Franklin meets Daniel James at Bellator 280". MMAJunkie.com. 24 March 2022.
- ^ "Daniel James off Bellator 280 in Paris due to positive drug test". MMAJunkie.com. 14 April 2022.
- ^ "Usman Nurmagomedov, Davion Franklin, among eight unbeaten prospects on Bellator 283 card". Fightmag.com. 19 July 2022.
- ^ "Bellator 283 weigh-in results: Ex-champ Douglas Lima misses weight for headliner against Jason Jackson". MMAFighting.com. 21 July 2022.
- ^ "Davion Franklin's fight odds". Bestfightodds.com.
- ^ "Kasim Aras | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology.com.
- ^ "Davion Franklin's MMA Odds History". Bestfightodds.com.
- ^ "Bellator 295 Weigh-In Results and Video: Two bouts scrapped". MMAWeekly.com. 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Davion Franklin vs Kasim Aras: MMADecisions". MMADecisions.com.
- ^ "Bellator 295: Stots vs Mix Monster Energy Prelims fueled by Aloha Island Mart DOM". Youtube.com.
- ^ "Slim Trabelsi | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology.com.
- ^ "Bellator 300: Tapology Event Page". Tapology.com.
- ^ "Franklin vs Trabelsi Tapology bout page". Tapology.com.