UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Davion Franklin might not be a household name in Bellator’s heavyweight division, but he could get there soon with repeats of his Friday performance.
Franklin (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) needed just 21 seconds at Bellator 264 to put away Everett Cummings (15-1 MMA, 2-1 BMMA), who came into the bout unbeaten and with five times more pro experience than Franklin. But Franklin barely broke a sweat to notch his third first-round stoppage in four pro fights, all under the Bellator banner.
Franklin landed a front push kick to Cummings’ right oblique just seconds into the fight. Cummings stumbled backward, and it appeared evident the kick hurt him. From there, Franklin took advantage and before long his punches gave him his fastest finish yet.
After the fight, Cummings looked to be in rough shape on the leg Franklin hit with the kick, which was shades of Jon Jones. And that makes sense, given Franklin trains with the former UFC light heavyweight champion at the Jackson Wink MMA gym in Albuquerque, N.M.
After Franklin’s win, he talked about that kick, his quick rise at heavyweight, his hope to one day be a Bellator champion, his in-cage callout of Cheick Kongo and another callout of Jake Hager. Check out the full video above from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.