Phil Davis began wrestling when he was in the seventh grade. He attended Harrisburg High School, where he was a four-year team captain and letterman, with a 112–17 career record. Davis went on to wrestle for Penn State, finishing in 5th place nationally in the 197 lb. weight class, and then won the (197 lbs) NCAA title in 2008. His overall wrestling record while at Penn State was 116–20, and he was crowned a four-time NCAA Division I All-American while wrestling in PA. After graduating from Penn State, Phil began his pro MMA career in 2008, winning his first bout via unanimous decision. He would sign with the UFC less than a year later and rack up 9 straight wins as a pro to kick off his stellar career. While with the UFC, Phil would receive Submission of The Year accolades and amass an 8 & 9 record with the organization. Phil signed with the Bellator MMA promotion in 2015 and fought his way to the top in a matter of months, claiming the light heavyweight crown in 2016 after winning a grueling tournament and a hard-fought championship bout.