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The 25 greatest Bellator fighters who never fought in the UFC

BAD MMA News — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 12:34:25 +0000

The official end of Bellator MMA (originally known as Bellator Fighting Championships from its debut in 2009 through 2012), coupled with the constant news of former Bellator fighters expressing their discontent with the PFL, has definitely brought on a wave of nostalgia for me – perhaps a bigger wave than I would have imagined. I’m extremely grateful for my time as a Bellator play-by-play commentator, which spanned 127 events and (somehow) exactly 1,250 fights from 2010 through 2015. One to never keep track of things like this, I went back and counted for this article. Even though I had already commentated Pride and M1 Global, when Bellator founder Bjorn Rebney hired me in November 2009, he gave me a gig that fully shifted me from being a soccer commentator to a fight commentator – which is exactly what I wanted, and for which I will always be extremely grateful. The announcement of Patricio Freire – arguably the greatest fighter in Bellator history and inarguably the fighter with the best-ever Bellator career – signing with the UFC definitely created a conversation about which other Bellator alumni could soon make this move. This also has opened up discussions about which now-retired Bellator greats could have gone to the UFC had they been given the chance, or seized the opportunity presented.

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The 25 greatest Bellator fighters who never fought in the UFC – MMA Junkie

Juan Archuleta happy for ex-opponent Kai Asakura’s immediate title shot at UFC 310

BAD MMA News — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 23:12:44 +0000

Juan Archuleta expects former foe Kai Asakura to do well in his return to flyweight at UFC 310. Former RIZIN bantamweight champion Asakura (21-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) challenges Alexandre Pantoja (28-5 MMA, 12-3 UFC) for the 125-pound title Dec. 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas ( ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+). Asakura’s last win before signing with the UFC was a TKO finish of Archuleta to claim the RIZIN bantamweight title last December.

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Juan Archuleta happy for ex-opponent Kai Asakura’s immediate title shot at UFC 310 – MMA Junkie

Ex-Bellator, Rizin FF champion Juan Archuleta ‘would love’ to sign with UFC

BAD MMA News — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 16:06:14 +0000

Juan Archuleta has done plenty in his decorated MMA career, but there’s still one thing that’s evaded him: fighting for the UFC. Archuleta (29-7) is currently out from under the Bellator-PFL umbrella and, while signed to a non-exclusive deal with Rizin, is looking to make a final career push to the UFC. The former King of the Cage, Rizin, and most notably Bellator champion is excited about the possibility of adding the UFC to the promotion he’s fought for

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Ex-Bellator, Rizin FF champion Juan Archuleta ‘would love’ to sign with UFC – MMA Junkie

Kai Asakura stops Juan Archuleta with brutal knee to the body, wins bantamweight title at Rizin 45

BAD MMA News — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 20:34:23 +0000

Kai Asakura is Rizin bantamweight champion once again. The Japanese star was able to get back the title he lost three years ago by defeating Juan Archuleta in the co-main event of Sunday’s Rizin 45 event, which took place at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Asakura (21-4) dropped Archuleta (29-5) with a brutal knee to the chest in the round and then followed up with ground-and-pound to get the TKO stoppage win.

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Kai Asakura stops Juan Archuleta with brutal knee to the body, wins bantamweight title at Rizin 45 – MMA Junkie

Kai Asakura def. Juan Archuleta at Rizin 45: Best photos

BAD MMA News — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 18:27:23 +0000

Check out these photos from Kai Asakura ’s bantamweight title victory against Juan Archuleta at Rizin 45, which took place at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. (Photos courtesy of Rizin FF) Kai Asakura def. Juan Archuleta at Rizin 45 Kai Asakura def. Juan Archuleta at Rizin 45 Share Share this image gallery on Facebook on Twitter via text message via email https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/feed Kai Asakura def

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Kai Asakura def. Juan Archuleta at Rizin 45: Best photos – MMA Junkie

Juan Archuleta misses weight for Rizin 45 title bout, stripped of bantamweight title

BAD MMA News — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 16:06:47 +0000

Juan Archuleta had big ambitions for his holiday trip to Japan, but a big wrench has been thrown into the works of his plan. Archuleta (29-4) missed weight by about 6 pounds Saturday for his bantamweight title defense against Kai Asakura (20-4) at Rizin FF 45, which takes place New Year’s Eve in Saitama, Japan. Former Bellator champion Archuleta has been stripped of the Rizin title due to the weight infraction, and now only Asakura can win the belt in the co-main event. After the official weigh-ins in Japan, Archuleta told fans and media in attendance that an illness while traveling was the culprit for his large weight miss. And right after that, Asakura said he would talk to his team and make a decision since the weight disparity was so big.

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Juan Archuleta misses weight for Rizin 45 title bout, stripped of bantamweight title – MMA Junkie

Juan Archuleta wants Patchy Mix rematch if successful in Rizin title defense vs. Kai Asakura

BAD MMA News — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 13:26:40 +0000

Juan Archuleta is hoping Bellator’s promise is kept, even though the promotion has been acquired by PFL. The current Rizin bantamweight champion is still the only man to ever defeat Patchy Mix , who currently holds the Bellator 135-pound title.

Juan Archuleta wants Patchy Mix rematch if successful in Rizin title defense vs. Kai Asakura – MMA Junkie

Rizin champ Juan Archuleta explains career uncertainty after PFL-Bellator merger

BAD MMA News — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 01:52:40 +0000

PFL’s purchase of Bellator has brought a ton of uncertainty to many fighters signed by both organizations. However, for Juan Archuleta the concern is even bigger. Archuleta is a special case. The MMA veteran has been fighting for Bellator since 2018 and has positioned himself as one of the more well-known names in the promotion, challenging for the Bellator featherweight title and becoming champion at bantamweight.

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Rizin champ Juan Archuleta explains career uncertainty after PFL-Bellator merger – MMA Junkie

Juan Archuleta acuses Kai Asakura of ‘running scared’ from original booking ahead of Rizin 45

BAD MMA News — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 20:55:02 +0000

Juan Archuleta believes Kai Asakura robbed MMA fans earlier this year of what he predicts to be a quality fight. Archuleta and Asakura were booked to fight in July at Bellator MMA x Rizin 2, but Asakura withdrew from the matchup citing injury. Although the two are now set to fight on New Year’s Eve at Rizin 45, Archuleta feels Asakura is scared to fight him. “I’m in the best shape of my life, and you don’t have to worry about that because there’s no one running scared,” Archuleta said at the pre-fight press conference

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Juan Archuleta acuses Kai Asakura of ‘running scared’ from original booking ahead of Rizin 45 – MMA Junkie

RIZIN 45 official with Kyoji Horiguchi, John Dodson, Juan Archuelta and more

BAD MMA News — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 19:03:32 +0000

RIZIN 45 is officially on the calendar, and it features a handful of names notable to American viewers. The event takes place Dec. 31 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, the promotion announced at a news conference Thursday. Atop the billing will be two title fights. An inaugural RIZIN flyweight title has been implemented as former Bellator bantamweight champion Kyoji Horiguchi (31-5) battles Makoto Shinryu (16-1-1).

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RIZIN 45 official with Kyoji Horiguchi, John Dodson, Juan Archuelta and more – MMA Junkie