Former Bellator champ Juan Archuleta continued the momentum for his promotion at Saturday’s Rizin FF 40: Rizin vs. Bellator occasion.
Archuleta (27-4) made it 2-0 for Group Bellator within the head-to-head matchups with Rizin within the particular cross-promotion occasion, taking a cut up resolution over Soo Chul Kim (18-7-1) within the bantamweight matchup courtesy of his simpler putting and floor management.
The occasion occurred at Saitama Tremendous Area in Saitama, close to Tokyo. The principle card airs on Showtime through tape delay at 9 p.m. ET.
After making a spectacular entrance to the ring, Archuleta began sturdy when he got here out of gate firing onerous punches. Kim tried to counter by leaping on a standing guillotine choke, however it in the end ended up with the struggle spilling to the bottom, the place he spent nearly all of the spherical on his again. It acquired again to the toes late and Archuleta touchdown a punishing leg kick.
The Aztec Warrior… 🐆@jarchmma
[ #RIZIN40 | #RIZINvsBellator ] pic.twitter.com/49TDS5JoKT
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
Archuleta picked up the place he left off within the second body, touchdown crisp pictures on the toes, together with a nasty sequence of standing elbows from contained in the clinch. He acquired again to prime place the place he dominated, as nicely, and Kim’s solely second of the spherical got here throughout a putting trade the place he landed a leg kick that caught Archuleta’s consideration.
WHAT A SCRAP 👊
[ #RIZIN40 | #RIZINvsBellator ] pic.twitter.com/kRAl0PR8AY
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
Within the ultimate spherical, Archuleta was assured as he threw his strikes. Kim acquired prime place throughout a scramble, however referee Jason Herzog rapidly stood them up. That allowed Archuleta to get again in his putting rhythm. The ultimate minute noticed Kim attempt to pounce on a entrance choke, however Archuleta stayed composed and survived to flee earlier than the ultimate bell.
” ?”
[ #RIZIN40 | #RIZINvsBellator ] pic.twitter.com/8ZGtKLHGX9
— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) December 31, 2022
“I’m so emotional. I’m not going to lie,” Archuleta stated in his post-fight interview. “All week it’s been draining on my soul, all you followers lifting me as much as have the consideration and the facility and the energy to come back right here tonight.”
After a two-fight shedding skid, Archuleta has now received back-to-back bouts after beating Enrique Barzola by resolution at Bellator 286 in October.
Official Rizin vs. Bellator outcomes embody:
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for Rizin FF 40: Rizin vs. Bellator.
