Tywan Claxton

{{Infobox martial artist

| name = Tywan Claxton

| other_names = Air

| birth_name = Tywan Claxton

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|11|25}}

| birth_place = Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| death_cause =

| residence = Cleveland, Ohio

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=8}}

| weight = {{convert|145|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}

| reach_in = 74

| weight_class = Featherweight

| style = Wrestling, Boxing, Muay Thai, Jujitsu

| stance =

| wrestling = NCAA Division I Wrestling{{cite web|url=https://cagesidepress.com/2017/11/02/bellator-186-tywan-claxton-interview/|title=Bellator 186's Tywan Claxton Talks His Pro Debut, NCAA, and Meeting Rumble Johnson|author=Jay Anderson|publisher=cagesidepress.com|date=November 2, 2017}}

| fighting_out_of = Cleveland, Ohio, United States

| team = Warehouse warriors
Blackzilians (formerly){{cite web|url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Tywan-Claxton-Working-on-Rebrand-Wants-to-Be-One-of-the-HighestPaid-Athletes-Ever-172655|title=Tywan Claxton Working on Rebrand, Wants to Be 'One of the Highest-Paid Athletes Ever'|date=May 2, 2020|publisher=sherdog.com|author=Tristen Critchfield}}
Elevation Fight Team (2020–present){{cite web|url=https://cagesidepress.com/2020/07/22/ty-wan-claxton-pissed-off-rate-my-jiu-jitsu-im-a-white-belt-about-to-whoop-your-a/|title=Bellator 242's Tywan Claxton Irked by Wilson's Dismissal of His BJJ Skills: "I'm a White Belt That's About to Whoop Your A**"|date=July 22, 2021|publisher=cagesidepress.com|author=Joe McDonagh}}

| rank =

| years_active = 2017–present

| mma_kowin = 4

| mma_subwin =

| mma_decwin = 4

| mma_koloss =

| mma_subloss = 1

| mma_decloss = 2

| mma_draw =

| mma_nc =

}}

Tywan Claxton (born November 25, 1992) is an American mixed martial artist and former amateur wrestler.{{Cite web|url=https://dodoodad.com/tywan-claxton-biography|title=Tywan Claxton Biography|website=Dodoodad|date=4 May 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-06-23}} He most notably competed in Bellator MMA at featherweight.{{Cite news|url=http://www.bellator.com/fighters/l48zhx/tywan-claxton|title=Tywan Claxton - MMA Fighter Profile {{!}} Bellator.com|work=Spike.com|access-date=2018-06-23}}

Early life

Claxton was born in Cleveland, Ohio, where he went to Frank L. Wiley Middle School.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bah0OlkjWXR/|title=Tywan "Air Claxton" on Instagram: "I've been about numbers come November third imma collect that check #bellator186 #mma #blackzilians #bjj #wrestling #muaythai…"|website=Instagram|language=en|access-date=2018-06-23}} Claxton formerly wrestled at King University in Bristol, Tennessee, where he studied medicine. He also wrestled and gained All-American status in NCAA Division II at the 141-pound weight class.{{Cite web|url=http://courtstreetstories.com/ou-wrestling-grapples-with-claxtons-ineligibility/|title=OU wrestling grapples with Claxton's ineligibility {{!}} Court Street Stories|website=courtstreetstories.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-06-23}}

In 2015, Claxton transferred to Ohio University. He wrestled for two years for the Ohio Bobcats and was a two-time NCAA Division I national qualifier; Claxton was set to compete his senior year, however, days before the season was scheduled to start, Claxton was deemed ineligible to wrestle because of a transfer rule set by the NCAA. Claxton graduated with a degree in Healthcare Marketing.{{Cite web|url=https://dodoodad.com/tywan-claxton-biography|title=Tywan Claxton Biography|website=Dodoodad|date=4 May 2018 |language=en|access-date=2018-06-23}} Claxton taught himself how to code and spends his spare time on the computer. Claxton compiled a 6–0 amateur MMA record after deciding to train in MMA.

Mixed martial arts career

Claxton began training in mixed martial arts after not being able to compete in wrestling his senior year at Ohio University. Although he dabbled in the sport in college, he ultimately started real training once he received an invitation to move to Florida to train with the Blackzilians from wrestling coach Greg Jones. Claxton trained among the best fighters in the world, with teammates in both Ultimate Fighting Championship and Bellator MMA.{{Cite news|url=https://cagesidepress.com/2017/11/02/bellator-186-tywan-claxton-interview/|title=Bellator 186's Tywan Claxton Talks His Pro Debut, NCAA, and Meeting Rumble Johnson|last=Anderson|first=Jay|date=2017-11-02|work=Cageside Press|access-date=2018-06-23|language=en-US}}

=Bellator MMA=

It was announced that Claxton had signed with Bellator MMA in August 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://www.flocombat.com/articles/5967589-tywan-claxton-signs-with-bellator-mma-calls-out-aaron-pico|title=Tywan Claxton Signs With Bellator MMA, Calls Out Aaron Pico|access-date=2018-06-23|language=en-US}}

Claxton made his professional MMA debut at Bellator 186 in University Park, Pennsylvania, vs Johnny Bonilla-Bowman. Claxton successfully made his debut with an emphatic flying knee to knock out his opponent in the first round. It was deemed as a knockout of the year contender.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mma/news/watch-bellator-fighter-makes-thunderous-debut-with-vicious-flying-knee-knockout/|title=WATCH: Bellator fighter makes thunderous debut with vicious flying knee knockout|work=CBSSports.com|access-date=2018-06-23|language=en}}

Claxton had his second professional fight at Bellator 194 in Uncasville, Connecticut, vs Jose Perez. Claxton used his wrestling and top game to dominate his opponent and ultimately won the fight by second round tko.{{Cite news|url=https://mmajunkie.com/2018/02/bellator-194-results-no-flying-knee-highlight-but-tywan-claxton-picks-up-win-no-2|title=Bellator 194 results: No flying knee highlight, but Tywan Claxton picks up win No. 2|date=2018-02-17|work=MMAjunkie|access-date=2018-06-23|language=en-US}}

On the 18th of August 2018, Claxton had his third professional bout at Bellator 204 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, vs Cris Lencioni, who gave up a percentage of his fight purse by missing weight by 2.4 pounds.{{Cite news|url=https://mmajunkie.com/2018/08/bellator-204-ceremonial-weigh-ins-video-tywan-claxton-cris-lencioni-darrion-caldwell-noad-lahat|title=Bellator 204 ceremonial weigh-ins video, photos: Claxton, Lencioni bring serious heat|date=2018-08-16|work=MMAjunkie|access-date=2018-09-01|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2018/8/18/17742298/tywan-claxton-bellator-204-opponent-cris-lencioni-broke-missed-weight-featherweight-mma-news|title=Video: Tywan Claxton says Bellator 204 opponent 'broke' when he missed weight|work=Bloody Elbow|access-date=2018-09-01}} Claxton used his superior striking and ultimately using his wrestling to win a clear decision over three rounds.{{Cite news|url=https://cagesidepress.com/2018/08/17/bellator-204-results-tywan-claxton-vs-cris-lencioni/|title=Bellator 204 Results: 'Air' Claxton Proves Versatile on Ground, Scores Decision Win Over Cris Lencioni|last=Anderson|first=Jay|date=2018-08-17|work=Cageside Press|access-date=2018-09-01|language=en-US}}

Tywan then had his fourth fight against Kaeo Meyer at Bellator 212, in Bellator's debut in Hawaii, at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu. Claxton would win the fight by TKO in the second round.

Claxton's fifth fight came against James Bennett at Bellator 221 in Chicago on May 11, 2019. He won the bout by TKO in the third round.{{Cite news|url=https://cagesidepress.com/2019/05/11/bellator-221-results-claxton-vs-bennett/|title=Bellator 221 Results: Tywan Claxton Interrupts Beatdown of James Bennett to Greet 50 Cent|date=2019-05-11|work=Cagesidepress.com|access-date=2019-05-11|language=en-US}} Claxton infamously began speaking to 50 Cent, seated near the cage, during the fight while engaging with Bennett on the ground.

Claxton next faced Emmanuel Sanchez in the opening round of the Bellator featherweight world grand prix at Bellator 226 on September 7, 2019. He lost the bout via second round submission.{{cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/platform/amp/2019/9/7/20854726/bellator-226-results-bader-vs-kongo|title=Bellator 226 Results: Bader vs. Kongo|work=MMA Fighting|date=September 8, 2019}}

Claxton faced Braydon Akeo at Bellator 235 on December 20, 2019. After largely winning the striking exchanges and taking Akeo down, Claxton won the bout via unanimous decision.{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2019/12/bellator-235-results-tywan-claxton-overwhelms-braydon-akeo-rebound-loss|title=Bellator 235 results: Tywan Claxton overwhelms Braydon Akeo to rebound from first loss|author=Mike Bohn|publisher=mmajunkie.com|date=December 20, 2019}}

Claxton faced former Legacy Fighting Alliance Featherweight Champion Justin Gonzales at Bellator 260 on June 11, 2021.{{cite web |title=Bellator 260: Welterweight Title Challenge |url=https://10play.com.au/bellator/articles/bellator-260-welterweight-title-challenge/tpa210417ptdqh |website=10 play |access-date=17 April 2021 |language=en-AU |date=17 April 2021}} He lost the fight by split decision.{{Cite web|date=2021-06-11|title=Bellator 260: Douglas Lima vs. Yaroslav Amosov live results and highlights|url=https://fansided.com/2021/06/11/bellator-260-douglas-lima-vs-yaroslav-amosov-live-results-highlights/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=FanSided|language=en-US}}

On July 10, 2021, it was announced that he was no longer under contract with Bellator.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-10|title=Bellator parts ways with 18 fighters: Daniel Straus, Tywan Claxton, Liam McGeary included|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/bellator-release-daniel-straus-tywan-claxton-18-fighters|access-date=2021-07-10|website=MMA Junkie|language=en-US}}