Danny Sabatello Record: 19-4-1

Climbing the bantamweight ladder

Sabatello kept building momentum in early 2021, decisioning the well-regarded Da'Mon Blackshear at Titan FC 67 to set up a move to Bellator MMA. His promotional debut in May 2021 was a statement: he wrestled his way past UFC veteran Brett Johns for a decision at Bellator 259. The signature win of his Bellator run came in June 2022, when he dominated the experienced Leandro Higo over three rounds at Bellator 282 to push deep into the promotion's bantamweight grand prix.

Grand prix and beyond

That tournament run hit its wall in December 2022, when Sabatello lost a decision to Raufeon Stots at Bellator 289 in a heated grudge match. He bounced back emphatically in April 2023 with a second-round rear-naked choke of Marcos Breno at Bellator 294, but the back half of the year was tougher: a first-round guillotine loss to Magomed Magomedov, followed by a rematch decision defeat to Stots in November 2023. He later moved on to the PFL, where he was booked against unbeaten Lazaro Dayron in the 2024 playoffs, carrying a 14-4 record into the next chapter of his career.

Fighting style

Sabatello is a wrestle-first bantamweight who imposes his will through relentless takedowns, top pressure, and control time, exactly what a three-time NCAA qualifier would be expected to do. His finish breakdown is unusually balanced for a grappler-heavy profile: of his 14 wins, five are submissions, three are knockouts, and six are decisions, for a finish rate near 57%. The rear-naked choke and arm-triangle are natural extensions of his positional dominance, while his cardio and pace let him grind through three- and five-round fights. The vulnerabilities are real, too – each of his four losses shows a different way to beat him, from striking to submissions to being out-grappled by the division's very best, as the two Stots fights demonstrated.

Career highlights

• Bellator grand prix contender — ran up a winning streak that carried him deep into Bellator's bantamweight tournament, headlined by his decision over UFC veteran Brett Johns.
• Three-time NCAA qualifier — a Purdue wrestling standout whose elite collegiate base became the foundation of his pro MMA control game.
• Signature finish — submitted the 15-fight veteran Marcos Breno by second-round rear-naked choke at Bellator 294.