Darrion Caldwell’s path to the Bellator featherweight grand prix wasn’t exactly what he thought it would be, but he’s thrilled to be part of it nonetheless.
For starters, Caldwell, a former Bellator bantamweight champion, didn’t expect to be on a two-fight skid. Caldwell is coming off back-to-back losses to current titleholder Kyoji Horiguchi — one in Rizin FF, one in Bellator.
“I didn’t plan to lose to Horiguchi then come up to 45,” Caldwell told Bloody Elbow at Bellator 228 media day Thursday in Los Angeles. “I knew they were gonna put together the tournament, and I asked my management if we could potentially get in this thing.