Joe Warren says 135, not 145 in his future.

An excerpt from an interview with MMAjunkie.com radio.

Quote :

"After this tournament is done, hopefully I never fight this weight class again," Warren recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). "I'll drop down to [135 pounds]. It's just a more comfortable weight for me.

"These guys are just way bigger. It's been harder for me to take people to the mat and control more. They pop their hips into submission attempts and throw big punches in there."

Warren stormed onto the MMA scene in March 2009 with back-to-back wins over Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto and Chase Beebe under the DREAM banner. Warren was eventually submitted by Bibiano Fernandes in the semifinals of DREAM's featherweight grand prix, but the lesson proved valuable.

In Warren's opening-round Bellator fight with Marriott, he found himself in numerous submission attempts but found a way to escape each hold – including a deep triangle choke that appeared destined to end the fight – even if the efforts weren't the most technical affairs.

"I'm not going to tap on any of them," Warren said. "I think the triangle was about the tightest thing I've ever been in. His body was way bigger. He weighed about 170 pounds going into that fight. That's probably the biggest guy I've ever competed against, and he was very skillful on the ground. He transitions real well.

"That triangle, I was out once and woke back up when I hit my shoulder. My corner was yelling, '15 seconds,' so I just held my breath, but it was 45 seconds. They were lying."

Warren immediately feels like a more immediate contender at 135 in the WEC. I think this is a great move for him, though I don't know how happy he is that Urijah Faber is waiting for him now too.

He'll be a future Champ in that division for sure, but Faber is too complete for him for the next couple years.