Juan Archuleta just picked up his eighth pro title in the most violent way possible.
Archuleta is a former two-promotion bantamweight world champion. A training partner of ex-UFC champ TJ Dillashaw, Archuleta won the Bellator title against Patchy Mix in 2020 and the RIZIN title from champ Hiromasa Ougikubo in 2023.
Archuleta’s one of the best fighters to never have competed in the UFC. ‘The Spaniard’ has a 9-3 record in Bellator with wins over UFC veteran Enrique Barzola, Henry Corrales, Naoki Inoue and more.
This weekend, Archuleta rebounded from a three-fight losing streak to some of the best fighters in the world (including former UFC title challenger Kai Asakura), with a devastating knockout in his first fight back on the regional scene.
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Former champ Juan Archuleta pulls off epic flying knee KO
On Saturday, Archuleta went up from his usual weight class and challenged for the Borroka featherweight title against the 10-3-1 Dennis Linton.
Archuleta made quick work of his opponent on fight night. In round 2 of their scheduled five-rounder, Archuleta caught Linton with a clean flying knee when he was coming in.
Linton was punted into the canvas with the strike.
No follow-up punches were necessary, as Archuleta walked away from his unconscious opponent.
Juan Archuleta has returned to the win column with a vintage performance, winning another title while he’s at it.
Juan Archuleta on where he wants to fight next
Archuleta, 37, has fought all over the world, for various promotions.
Several Bellator stars have signed with the UFC following the PFL’s acquisition of Bellator such as Patricio Pitbull, Aaron Pico, Michael ‘Venom’ Page and Archuleta’s former foe Patchy Mix.
Following his Borroka title win, Archuleta isn’t calling for a shot in the UFC but instead a return to RIZIN.
“Fans in Japan would you want to see me back in top form?” Archuleta wrote on X.
“Tell @RIZINTV_ it’s time for me to come back if not I will stay in America.”
“I hope to see you in July,” Archuleta said.