Joey Beltran

For the American electronic music producer and DJ, see Joey Beltram.
{{Infobox martial artist
| name            = Joey Beltran
| other_names     = The Mexicutioner
| image           =
| image_size      = 
| alt             =
| caption         =
| birth_name      = José Felipe Beltran
| birth_date      = 
| birth_place     = Oceanside, California, United States
| residence       =
| nationality     = American
| height          = 
| weight          = 
| weight_class    = HeavyweightLight HeavyweightMiddleweight
| reach_in        = 75
| style           = 
| stance          = Orthodox
| fighting_out_of = Carlsbad, California, United States
| team            = Blackline Fight Group  Alliance MMA
| rank            = Brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
| years_active    = 2007–present| mma_kowin       = 12
| mma_subwin      = 2
| mma_decwin      = 4
| mma_koloss      = 5
| mma_subloss     = 1
| mma_decloss     = 9
| mma_draw        =
| mma_nc          = 1
| url             =
| sherdog         = 21219
| footnotes       =
| updated         =
}}
José Felipe "Joey" Beltran (born December 9, 1981) is an American bare-knuckle boxer and mixed martial artist. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, he has competed for the UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce, and King of the Cage. He is the current BKFC Heavyweight Champion in bare-knuckle boxing.

Background
Beltran was born in Oceanside, California and raised in Carlsbad, California by a single mother. Beltran began boxing when he was 10 years old, and also was involved in street fighting from a young age. Beltran also began wrestling in middle school and was talented, but was initially not allowed to compete outside of practice because of poor grades. Beltran continued wrestling at Carlsbad High School during his sophomore year and picked up his grades, going on to compete on the varsity team as a Heavyweight for all three years and also became involved in Greco-Roman Wrestling. Beltran originally attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa before dropping out and then being introduced to mixed martial arts. Beltran moved back to California, attending Palomar College and continuing with mixed martial arts. When he began training, Beltran weighed 300 lbs.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career
Beltran made his professional debut on February 10, 2007 at Strikeforce: Young Guns and lost via unanimous decision. He went on to compile a record of 6–2 before being signed by Bellator.

Bellator
Beltran made his Bellator debut at Bellator 5 on May 1, 2009 against former UFC veteran Sherman Pendergarst. Beltran won the fight in the first round via TKO.

In his next appearance, under the King of the Cage banner, Beltran defeated Wes Combs via TKO only 25 seconds into the fight.

Beltran picked up another TKO win over another UFC veteran, Houston Alexander, before being signed by the UFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
Beltran made his UFC debut at UFC 109 against Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Rolles Gracie. Beltran was stepping in as a last minute replacement for Gracie's original opponent, Mostapha Al-turk. Beltran upset the fatigued Gracie and was victorious via a second round TKO.

Beltran returned to action on May 8, 2010 at UFC 113. He was originally set to fight Chad Corvin, but after Corvin's paperwork was not approved by the Quebec Athletic Commission he was pulled from the card and replaced by Tim Hague. Beltran defeated Hague after three rounds, taking the unanimous decision (30–27, 30–26, and 29–28).

Beltran next faced Matt Mitrione on September 25, 2010 at UFC 119. Beltran fought and lost to Mitrione via unanimous decision. Even though he lost, he still earned Fight of the Night honors.

Beltran then fought highly regarded kickboxer Pat Barry at UFC Fight for the Troops 2 on January 22, 2011, in Fort Hood, Texas.  He lost the fight via unanimous decision. During the fight, Beltran received a high volume of leg kicks from Barry, a former K-1 kickboxing competitor, yet only collapsed at the end of the final round. Barry has since expressed his bewilderment at the level of punishment that Beltran was able to absorb.

Beltran was expected to face promotional newcomer Dave Herman on June 11, 2011 at UFC 131. However, after Herman was shuffled to the main card, Beltran instead faced another UFC newcomer in Aaron Rosa. After a back-and-forth first two rounds, Beltran defeated Rosa via TKO in the third round.

Beltran fought Stipe Miocic on October 8, 2011 at UFC 136, losing via unanimous decision.

Beltran faced former Strikeforce. Heavyweight Lavar Johnson on January 28, 2012 at UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis, where he was knocked out for the first time in his career in the first round. Following the loss, Beltran was released from the promotion.

Post-UFC
After being released, Beltran announced that he would be dropping down to compete in the Light heavyweight division. He officially made his Light heavyweight debut on April 28, 2012 at C3 Fights in Oklahoma, where he defeated Anton Talamantes via unanimous decision.

Return to the UFC
Beltran made his return to the UFC replacing Brandon Vera against Australian James Te Huna on July 11, 2012 at UFC on Fuel TV 4. Although Beltran lost via unanimous decision, the back and forth bout earned Fight of the Night'' honors.

Beltran was expected to face Anthony Perosh on December 15, 2012 at UFC on FX 6.  However, Perosh was forced from the bout with a toe injury and replaced by Igor Pokrajac. He won the fight via unanimous decision.  On January 10, 2013, it was announced that Beltran had failed his post fight drug test, testing positive for nandrolone. Beltran was subsequently suspended for 9 months, retroactive to December 14, 2012. His win over Pokrajac was changed to a No Contest.

Returning from his suspension, Beltran faced Fábio Maldonado on October 9, 2013 at UFC Fight Night 29 in Maldonado's home-country of Brazil. He lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision. He was subsequently released from the promotion.

Return to Bellator
On October 30, 2013, it was announced that Beltran had signed with Bellator MMA.  He faced former UFC Light heavyweight Champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson on November 15, 2013 in the main event at Bellator 108. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round. Beltran faced Vladimir Matyushenko at Bellator 116 on April 11, 2014, winning by third round submission, his first submission win since 2007.

Beltran challenged Emanuel Newton for the Bellator Light heavyweight Championship at Bellator 124 on September 12, 2014. He lost the fight via knockout in the third round.

Beltran made his Middleweight debut against Brian Rogers on April 10, 2015 at Bellator 136. He won the fight by majority decision.

Beltran next faced Kendall Grove at Bellator 143 on September 25, 2015.  He lost the fight via TKO in the third round.

On September 21, 2016, it was announced that Beltran would be facing Alessio Sakara in the co-main event of Bellator 168 on December 10, 2016. He lost via knockout in the first round.

Bare knuckle boxing
Beltran faced Tony Lopez - who he had previously lost to in an MMA bout in 2009 - at a Bare Knuckle FC event held on June 2, 2018. He won the brutal back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision. At BKFC 9 Beltran won a unanimous decision victory over Chase Sherman, becoming the BKFC Heavyweight Champion, as well as the Police Gazzette World Heavyweight Champion.

Championships and accomplishments 
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship World Heavyweight Champion
 Police Gazette World Heavyweight Champion
5150 Combat League / Xtreme Fighting League
5150 Combat League Heavyweight Championship (One time)
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Fight of the Night (Two times)  vs. James Te Huna and Matt Mitrione

Mixed martial arts record

|-
| Win
| align=center| 18–15 (1)
| Dmitry Tebekin
| Decision (unanimous)
| S-70: Plotforma Cup 2019
| 
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Sochi, Russia
| 
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 17–15 (1)
| Sergei Kharitonov
| Decision (unanimous)
| Russian Cagefighting Championship
| 
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Yekaterinburg, Russia
|
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 17–14 (1)
| Alessio Sakara
| KO (punches)
| Bellator 168
| 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 1:20
| Florence, Italy
|
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 17–13 (1)
| Chase Gormley
| Decision (split)
| Bellator 155
| 
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Boise, Idaho, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 17–12 (1)
| Lamont Stafford 
| TKO (punches)
| C3 Fights: Beltran vs Stafford
| 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 4:14
| Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States
| 
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 16–12 (1)
| Kendall Grove
| TKO (punches)
| Bellator 143
| 
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 2:27
| Hidalgo, Texas, United States
|
|-
| Win
| align=center| 16–11 (1)
| Brian Rogers
| Decision (majority)
| Bellator 136
| 
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Irvine, California, United States
| 
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 15–11 (1)
| Emanuel Newton
| KO (spinning back fist)
| Bellator 124
| 
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 3:07
| Plymouth Township, Michigan, United States
| 
|-
| Win
| align=center| 15–10 (1)
| Vladimir Matyushenko
| Submission (north-south choke)
| Bellator 116
| 
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 3:06
| Temecula, California, United States
| 
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 14–10 (1)
| Quinton Jackson
| KO (punches)
| Bellator 108
| 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 4:59
| Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
| 
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 14–9 (1)
| Fábio Maldonado
| Decision (split)
| UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Shields
| 
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Barueri, Brazil
| 
|-
| NC
| align=center| 14–8 (1)
| Igor Pokrajac
| NC (overturned)
| UFC on FX: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson
| 
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Gold Coast, Australia
| 
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 14–8
| James Te Huna
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman
| 
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| San Jose, California, United States
| 
|-
| Win
| align=center| 14–7
| Anton Talamantes
| Decision (unanimous)
| C3 Fights
| 
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States
| 
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 13–7
| Lavar Johnson
| KO (punches)
| UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis
| 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 4:24
| Chicago, Illinois, United States
| 
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 13–6
| Stipe Miocic
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 136
| 
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Houston, Texas, United States
| 
|-
| Win
| align=center| 13–5
| Aaron Rosa
| TKO (punches)
| UFC 131
| 
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 1:26
| Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| 
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 12–5
| Pat Barry
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC: Fight For The Troops 2
| 
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Fort Hood, Texas, United States
| 
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 12–4
| Matt Mitrione
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 119
| 
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
| 
|-
| Win
| align=center| 12–3
| Tim Hague
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 113
| 
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 5:00
| Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| 
|-
| Win
| align=center| 11–3
| Rolles Gracie Jr.
| TKO (punches)
| UFC 109
| 
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 1:31
| Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
| 
|-
| Win
| align=center| 10–3
| Houston Alexander
| TKO (punches)
| 5150 Combat League / Xtreme Fighting League: New Year's Revolution
| 
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 3:49
| Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
| 
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 9–3
| Tony Lopez
| Decision (unanimous)
| KOTC: Distorted
| 
| align=center| 5
| align=center| 5:00
| Highland, California, United States
| 
|-
| Win
| align=center| 9–2
| Tracy Willis
| TKO (punches and elbows)
| 5150 Combat League: Rumble at the Rally
| 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 3:33
| Sparks, Oklahoma, United States
| 
|-
| Win
| align=center| 8–2
| Wes Combs
| TKO (punches)
| KOTC: Legends
| 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 0:25
| Winterhaven, California, United States
| 
|-
| Win
| align=center| 7–2
| Sherman Pendergarst
| TKO (punches)
| Bellator 5
| 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 2:24
| Dayton, Ohio, United States
| 
|-
| Win
| align=center| 6–2
| Jacob Browy
| TKO (punches)
| Gladiator Challenge: Warriors
| 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 1:20
| Pauma Valley, California, United States
| 
|-
| Win
| align=center| 5–2
| Wes Fenton
| TKO (punches)
| Total Combat 32
| 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 2:15
| El Cajon, California, United States
| 
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 4–2
| Tony Lopez
| Submission (kimura)
| KOTC: Opposing Force
| 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 3:15
| Highland, California, United States
| 
|-
| Win
| align=center| 4–1
| Phil Friedman
| TKO (punches)
| Total Combat 28
| 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 0:50
| San Diego, California, United States
| 
|-
| Win
| align=center| 3–1
| Ray Seraile
| TKO (punches)
| TC 25: Fight Club
| 
| align=center| 2
| align=center| 0:56
| San Diego, California, United States
| 
|-
| Win
| align=center| 2–1
| Tony Velarde
| Submission (kimura)
| Total Combat 21
| 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 2:35
| San Diego, California, United States
| 
|-
| Win
| align=center| 1–1
| Paul Ingrassia
| TKO (punches)
| Total Combat 20
| 
| align=center| 1
| align=center| 2:54
| San Diego, California, United States
| 
|-
| Loss
| align=center| 0–1
| Yohan Banks
| Decision (unanimous)
| Strikeforce: Young Guns
| 
| align=center| 3
| align=center| 3:00
| San Jose, California, United States
|

Bare knuckle record

|-
|Win
|align=center|3-1-1
|Chase Sherman
|Decision (Unanimous)
|Bare Knuckle FC 9
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|2:00
|Biloxi, Mississippi, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|2-1-1
|Jamie Campbell
|TKO (punches) 
|Bare Knuckle FC 6
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|1:50
|Tampa, Florida, United States
|
|- 
|Draw
|align=center|1-1-1
|Tony Lopez
|Draw (split)
|Bare Knuckle FC 4
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|2:00
|Cancun, Mexico
|
|- 
|Loss
|align=center|1-1
|Arnold Adams
|TKO (doctor stoppage)
||BKFC 2: A New Era
|
|align=center|4
|align=center|0:09
|Biloxi, Mississippi, United States
|
|- 
|Win
|align=center|1-0
|Tony Lopez
|Decision (unanimous)
|BKFC 1: The Beginning
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|2:00
|Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States
|
|-

See also
List of male mixed martial artists
List of Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners
List of current Bellator fighters

References

External links

Official UFC Profile

Category:American male mixed martial artists
Category:American mixed martial artists of Mexican descent
Category:American sportspeople in doping cases
Category:Doping cases in mixed martial arts
Category:Mixed martial artists from California
Category:Heavyweight mixed martial artists
Category:1981 births
Category:Living people
Category:American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Category:Sportspeople from San Diego
Category:Sportspeople from Carlsbad, California
Category:University of Hawaii at Manoa alumni
Category:Bare-knuckle boxers
Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters