The Bellator bantamweight grand prix will have to kick off without the champion as an injury has forced Sergio Pettis out of his opening bout against teammate Raufeon Stots . Now on April 23 at Bellator 279, former champ Juan Archuleta (25-3) will step in to face Stots (17-1) for the interim title at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu. A person with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the change but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. CBS Sports was first to report the news. Archuleta already was tabbed to compete in the eight-man bantamweight tournament but was yet to have an opponent announced.
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