RIO RANCHO, N.M. — Rochester's Raphael Butler has done it again.
Butler improved to 2-0 for national mixed martial arts organization Bellator on Friday night with yet another knockout victory.
The former Compound MMA standout spent the bulk of his training camp for this fight at Alliance Training Center in California.
Butler matched up Friday against California pro Joseph Bryant, who had a 3-3 professional record.
Bryant didn't last long. He did score a takedown, but Butler had a kimura locked up and used it to sweep. Once Butler got on top, he rained down punches until the referee stopped it, giving Butler the technical knockout at 1:04 of the first round.
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Butler is now 7-0 as a professional. He's finished all seven opponents.
The former professional boxer is managed by the Sterling Entertainment Group (SEG) in Minnesota, and he will return to action in just two weeks.
Butler is set to fight Maurice "The Gorilla" Jackson in another heavyweight showdown on Friday, Nov. 8 in Thackerville, Okla. Jackson is a standout kickboxer who won his Bellator debut by knockout earlier this month.
"Raphael committed to his MMA career at the highest of levels by moving to Alliance in Chula Vista, Calif.," said Jeremy Bjornberg, who is part of the SEG team. "He is arguably the most exciting heavyweight MMA prospect in the world. We're excited to see him get right back in there and continue to show what he can do."
Jackson should be the toughest test of Butler's MMA career to date. After this fight, he's expected to compete in the next Bellator heavyweight tournament.
"I really think 2014 is going to be a big year for Raphael Butler in the MMA world," SEG's Andrew Studer said. "He's got all the tools to be a champion."
