Dan Cramer
Encyclopedia
Daniel John Cramer is an American
mixed martial artist
. He was a competitor on SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs Team Forrest. Cramer currently fights for Bellator Fighting Championships
in their middleweight division.
, in 2003. He attended Bethel High School from 1999-2003. Cramer then attended the University of Connecticut
, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. While attending going to college, he played on the rugby team and was captain of the hockey team. After graduating, Cramer got a job working as a manager for a local country club.
of Connecticut and Best Way Brazilian Jiu Jitsu led by Luigi Mondelli, a five time Pan Am Jiu Jitsu champion.
Before being on The Ultimate Fighter, Cramer held a 3-0 amateur record. After the filming of The Ultimate Fighter, Cramer moved to Coconut Creek, Florida
to train with the main American Top Team academy.
. In order for the fighters to make it on the show, they had to win an elimination fight. Cramer won his elimination round fight against Jeremiah Riggs
via unanimous decision. Cramer was selected to be a part of Team Rampage.
Cramer then defeated Luke Zachrich by technical knockout in the second round. In the semi-final matchup, Cramer was paired off against Team Forrest's first pick, Tim Credeur
. Credeur submitted Cramer with a heel hook to end Cramer's run in the tournament. After the fight, Cramer said he made a rookie mistake and he should have won the fight.
against former cast mate Cale Yarbrough
. Cramer broke his collar bone and was forced to withdraw from the fight.
In Cramer's MMA
and UFC debut, he defeated Matt Arroyo
at UFC 94: St. Pierre vs. Penn 2
, Cramer won the fight by Split Decision. The judges scored the fight (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
Cramer next fought his former Ultimate Fighter cast mate Matt Riddle at UFC 101
. He lost the bout by unanimous decision. The judges scored the bout 29-27, 30-26 and 30-27. Cramer was dropped from the UFC after his loss to Riddle at UFC 101
.
Cramer fought fellow TUF alumni, Dante Rivera
, for a one-off show from Bellator at Great Adventure in New Jersey. After three very close rounds, the fight went to the judges and Rivera was awarded the win via split decision (30-27, 30-27, 28-29). Judge Doug Crosby was the only dissenting voice on the cards, scoring the fight 29-28 to Cramer. Many spectators believed Cramer won, even booing the hometown favorite Rivera.
He returned to Bellator for its last season three event, Bellator 34, against Igor Almeida. Cramer defeated Almeida via TKO (cut) at 2:36 of round one. That was Cramer's first professional win via stoppage.
At Bellator 39, Cramer fought Greg Rebello at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Connecticut
. He won via unanimous decision.
Cramer made his fourth Bellator appearance at Bellator 46 against Josh Samman. Cramer controlled the entirety of the fight, and won the fight via unanimous decision. Cramer brought his undefeated Bellator record to 4-0.
Cramer was expected to fight John Clarke on August 20, 2011 in Uncasville, Connecticut
at Bellator 48. This was Cramer's fifth Bellator appearance. Clarke, however, withdrew due to an injury and Cramer faced newcomer Jeff Nader. He lost the fight via TKO in the third round.
|Loss
|align=center|7-3
|Jeff Nader
|TKO (punches)
|Bellator 48
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|1:04
|Uncasville, Connecticut
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|7-2
|Josh Samman
|Decision (unanimous)
|Bellator 46
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Hollywood, Florida
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|6-2
|Greg Rebello
|Decision (unanimous)
|Bellator 39
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Uncasville, Connecticut
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|5-2
|Igor Almeida
|TKO (doctor stoppage)
|Bellator 34
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:36
|Hollywood, Florida
, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|4-2
|Dante Rivera
|Decision (split)
|Elite MMA: MMA Mayhem
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Jackson, New Jersey, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|4-1
|Dennis Olson
|Decision (unanimous)
|Bellator 15
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Uncasville, Connecticut
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|3-1
|Ever Nunez
|Decision (unanimous)
|AFL: Rumble at the Rock 2
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Hollywood, Florida
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|2-1
|Ron Jackson
| Decision (unanimous)
| C3 Fights: Slammin Jammin III
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Red Rock, Oklahoma
, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|1-1
|Matt Riddle
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 101
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|1-0
|Matt Arroyo
|Decision (split)
|UFC 94
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
|
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mixed martial artist
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
. He was a competitor on SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs Team Forrest. Cramer currently fights for Bellator Fighting Championships
Bellator Fighting Championships
Bellator Fighting Championships is a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. "Bellator", which is Latin for "Warrior", is organized into seasons with each event hosting the rounds of championship knockout tournaments for three-five weight divisions.-History:In its first season,...
in their middleweight division.
Biography
Dan Cramer graduated from Bethel High School, in his hometown of Bethel, ConnecticutBethel, Connecticut
Bethel is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, about sixty miles from New York City. Its population was 18,584 at the 2010 census. The town center is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place...
, in 2003. He attended Bethel High School from 1999-2003. Cramer then attended the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. While attending going to college, he played on the rugby team and was captain of the hockey team. After graduating, Cramer got a job working as a manager for a local country club.
Mixed martial arts career
Cramer began training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the age of sixteen. He later started his mixed martial arts training with the American Top TeamAmerican Top Team
American Top Team is one of the leading teams in mixed martial arts. It was founded by former members of Brazilian Top Team, Ricardo Liborio, Marcus Silveira and Marcelo Silveira but there is no formal affiliation between the two teams. ATT's main academy is in Coconut Creek, Florida but has...
of Connecticut and Best Way Brazilian Jiu Jitsu led by Luigi Mondelli, a five time Pan Am Jiu Jitsu champion.
Before being on The Ultimate Fighter, Cramer held a 3-0 amateur record. After the filming of The Ultimate Fighter, Cramer moved to Coconut Creek, Florida
Coconut Creek, Florida
Coconut Creek is a city in Broward County, Florida , nestled between Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. It had a population of 52,909 at the 2010 census...
to train with the main American Top Team academy.
The Ultimate Fighter
Cramer was a contestant on the seventh season of The Ultimate FighterThe Ultimate Fighter
The Ultimate Fighter is an American reality television series and mixed martial arts competition produced by Spike TV and the Ultimate Fighting Championship , and soon to be shown on FX. The show features unknown, professional MMA fighters living together in Las Vegas, Nevada, and follows them as...
. In order for the fighters to make it on the show, they had to win an elimination fight. Cramer won his elimination round fight against Jeremiah Riggs
Jeremiah Riggs
Jeremiah Riggs is an American professional wrestler, and mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight and middleweight divisions. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, Riggs has made a name for himself mainly fighting in the Midwest, and his homestate of Mississippi...
via unanimous decision. Cramer was selected to be a part of Team Rampage.
Cramer then defeated Luke Zachrich by technical knockout in the second round. In the semi-final matchup, Cramer was paired off against Team Forrest's first pick, Tim Credeur
Tim Credeur
Timothy Wallace Credeur II is an American mixed martial artist. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter 7 and was defeated by fellow cast member Jesse Taylor in the semi-finals. He was then brought back into the competition following the disqualification of Taylor. He fought C.B...
. Credeur submitted Cramer with a heel hook to end Cramer's run in the tournament. After the fight, Cramer said he made a rookie mistake and he should have won the fight.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Cramer was set to make his debut at The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs Team Forrest FinaleThe Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs Team Forrest Finale
The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs. Team Forrest Finale, also referred to as The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale, was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on June 21, 2008...
against former cast mate Cale Yarbrough
Cale Yarbrough
John Cale Yarbrough is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter 7. Yarbrough is a competitor for the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions...
. Cramer broke his collar bone and was forced to withdraw from the fight.
In Cramer's MMA
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
and UFC debut, he defeated Matt Arroyo
Matt Arroyo
Matthew Vincent Arroyo is an American professional mixed martial artist. He was featured on the Ultimate Fighting Championship reality television show The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra, fighting on Team Serra. He fights out of Tampa, Florida with Gracie Tampa, under Royce Gracie...
at UFC 94: St. Pierre vs. Penn 2
UFC 94
UFC 94: St-Pierre vs. Penn 2 was a mixed martial arts pay-per-view event promoted by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on January 31, 2009. The card featured five televised MMA bouts, as well as five un-aired preliminary bouts...
, Cramer won the fight by Split Decision. The judges scored the fight (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
Cramer next fought his former Ultimate Fighter cast mate Matt Riddle at UFC 101
UFC 101
UFC 101: Declaration was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 8, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
. He lost the bout by unanimous decision. The judges scored the bout 29-27, 30-26 and 30-27. Cramer was dropped from the UFC after his loss to Riddle at UFC 101
UFC 101
UFC 101: Declaration was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 8, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
.
Bellator Fighting Championships
After leaving the UFC, Cramer recorded a pair of wins before he signed to fight Dennis Olson in a middleweight contest that took place at Bellator 15. Cramer dominated the bout, and won via unanimous decision with all three judges giving him a 30-27 win.Cramer fought fellow TUF alumni, Dante Rivera
Dante Rivera
Dante Rivera is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter 7 making it to the quarterfinals where he was defeated by Jesse Taylor....
, for a one-off show from Bellator at Great Adventure in New Jersey. After three very close rounds, the fight went to the judges and Rivera was awarded the win via split decision (30-27, 30-27, 28-29). Judge Doug Crosby was the only dissenting voice on the cards, scoring the fight 29-28 to Cramer. Many spectators believed Cramer won, even booing the hometown favorite Rivera.
He returned to Bellator for its last season three event, Bellator 34, against Igor Almeida. Cramer defeated Almeida via TKO (cut) at 2:36 of round one. That was Cramer's first professional win via stoppage.
At Bellator 39, Cramer fought Greg Rebello at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut. The area traditionally known as Uncasville is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River...
. He won via unanimous decision.
Cramer made his fourth Bellator appearance at Bellator 46 against Josh Samman. Cramer controlled the entirety of the fight, and won the fight via unanimous decision. Cramer brought his undefeated Bellator record to 4-0.
Cramer was expected to fight John Clarke on August 20, 2011 in Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut. The area traditionally known as Uncasville is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River...
at Bellator 48. This was Cramer's fifth Bellator appearance. Clarke, however, withdrew due to an injury and Cramer faced newcomer Jeff Nader. He lost the fight via TKO in the third round.
Mixed martial arts record
|-|Loss
|align=center|7-3
|Jeff Nader
|TKO (punches)
|Bellator 48
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|1:04
|Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut. The area traditionally known as Uncasville is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|7-2
|Josh Samman
|Decision (unanimous)
|Bellator 46
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Hollywood, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|6-2
|Greg Rebello
|Decision (unanimous)
|Bellator 39
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut. The area traditionally known as Uncasville is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|5-2
|Igor Almeida
|TKO (doctor stoppage)
|Bellator 34
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:36
|Hollywood, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|4-2
|Dante Rivera
Dante Rivera
Dante Rivera is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter 7 making it to the quarterfinals where he was defeated by Jesse Taylor....
|Decision (split)
|Elite MMA: MMA Mayhem
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Jackson, New Jersey, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|4-1
|Dennis Olson
|Decision (unanimous)
|Bellator 15
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville, Connecticut
Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut. The area traditionally known as Uncasville is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|3-1
|Ever Nunez
|Decision (unanimous)
|AFL: Rumble at the Rock 2
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Hollywood, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|2-1
|Ron Jackson
| Decision (unanimous)
| C3 Fights: Slammin Jammin III
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Red Rock, Oklahoma
Red Rock, Oklahoma
Red Rock is a town in Noble County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 293 at the 2000 census...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|1-1
|Matt Riddle
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 101
UFC 101
UFC 101: Declaration was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 8, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|1-0
|Matt Arroyo
Matt Arroyo
Matthew Vincent Arroyo is an American professional mixed martial artist. He was featured on the Ultimate Fighting Championship reality television show The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra, fighting on Team Serra. He fights out of Tampa, Florida with Gracie Tampa, under Royce Gracie...
|Decision (split)
|UFC 94
UFC 94
UFC 94: St-Pierre vs. Penn 2 was a mixed martial arts pay-per-view event promoted by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on January 31, 2009. The card featured five televised MMA bouts, as well as five un-aired preliminary bouts...
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|