Move over, Brock Lesnar – The Next Big Thing in MMA might be headed our way, and he’s got his eyes set on Bellator’s middleweight division.
His name is Romero Cotton, and while his name recognition isn’t at Lesnar status just yet, the hype surrounding the three-time NCAA Division II wrestling champion and multi-sport athlete is palpable.
News broke back in November that Bellator, widely regarded as MMA’s #2 promotion worldwide, signed the blue chip prospect to a multi-fight deal that would see him compete for the promotion at 185 pounds.
According to the award-winning athlete, Bellator officials reached out with a deal before any other promotion had a chance to contact him.
I finished up wrestling out here at Nebraska-Kearney, and I was planning on switching over to coaching,” said Cotton. “I started dibbling and dabbling into MMA, just helping out some local fighters. Then I started trying to hit some pads and strike a little bit. After that, it kind of just snowballed. Next thing you know, Bellator came knocking on my door.”
For Cotton, his experience with the promotion thus far has been nothing but positive.
It’s been wonderful for me, man,” he said. “I’ve got a hell of an opportunity. I didn’t really see it coming. To work with a company like that, a big promotion … I follow MMA. To be able to get that call, it’s a big opportunity, and I’m ready to seize it.
Once Cotton graduates in May, things will begin to move very fast for him as he begins preparation for his first fight. In a perfect world, that fight would come mid-summer, according to the wrestler.
Unlike some fighters who spend years on the amateur MMA circuit looking for a big break, Cotton will have the chance to impress Bellator brass without having a single sanctioned fight to his name.
Of course, this brings up questions about where he’ll get the tools and technique needed to compete at such a high level without an official fight record. That’s where current UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and world-renowned gym American Kickboxing Acadamy come in.
AKA was one of the original ones to bring me out,” said Cotton. “As of right now, that’s most likely where we’re headed. I want to end up in the best situation for myself.”
The young prospect is fully aware of the challenges ahead of him. As such, his full focus will be on evolving his overall game while enhancing his already stellar wrestling base. If Cotton ends up at AKA, it means he’ll be calling San Jose home year round.From what I see in this business and in this fight game, you can’t be one of
From what I see in this business and in this fight game, you can’t be one of them half-the-time guys,” he said. “I’m pretty new to this game, but you can tell apart the people who just come in, and train just for their fight, compared to the people that train all year. So, I look forward to moving out to the camp and just immersing myself in it and picking up everything I can learn.
Cotton’s affiliation with AKA began when UFC lightweight champion Daniel Cormier called him personally on the phone with an invitation to train.
Daniel Cormier, at the very beginning, reached out and called me, and brought me out to AKA and showed me love,” said Cotton. “They work real hard out there. They grind out there. As of right now that’s where I’d like to be. There’s a lot of history there. They’re world champions. They’re the best out there.
They always say if you want to be the best you’ve got to work with the best, and the guy that brought me into the game is the light heavyweight champion right now.
The future is bright for Romero Cotton, who by all accounts plans on making a splash in Bellator this summer.
Whoever they give me, I’m going to train for them,” he said. “I’m going to be prepared, and I’m going to put my best foot forward. I’m going to let them have it. For most of my life I’ve always come out on top, and I don’t plan on stopping that now.
His message for Bellator’s middleweight division?
Be ready. I’m coming. I’m training every day, I’m ready for war,” he said. “I’m not scared of defeat. I’m not scared of anything. I’m just looking forward to getting out there and mixing it up with those guys and putting on a show.
Is Romero Cotton the next big thing to hit MMA? Only time will tell. Until then, we can all have fun speculating.
Ray Higginbotham is a writer and avid fan of MMA. For more content like this, make sure to follow him on Twitter @_MMARAY. Also, you can check out his Facebook Page here.
