Juan Archuleta is calling for his shot in the UFC.
The former Bellator and RIZIN Bantamweight Champion made it back-to-back wins over the weekend in Las Vegas.
Archuleta snapped a three-fight losing skid earlier this year with a flying knee ‘knockout of the year’ contender at BORROKA 3 where he picked up yet another title.
A longtime teammate of TJ Dillashaw and Cub Swanson, Archuleta wants to join them in the UFC, but at 38 years old, time isn’t exactly on his side.
With his fingers crossed for a UFC call, the Bellator veteran made his 38th walk to the cage on Saturday when he faced off against a former UFC fighter.
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Juan Archuleta wants UFC after submittting 6’0″ Jose Johnson
Archuleta successfully defended his BORROKA featherweight title against the 6’0″ Jose Johnson, the tallest fighter in UFC flyweight history.
Johnson was in the UFC a couple fights ago and Archuleta made quick work of him, submitting Johnson with a rear-naked choke in round 2.
This was Archuleta’s second submission win of his career.
Post-fight, Archuleta made it clear he wanted the UFC next and called out the likes of featherweight contenders Dan Ige and Diego Lopes, who was in attendance.
At 38 years old, it might be now or never for the UFC to call Archuleta.
It’s worth noting the premier promotion signed former Bellator two-division champion Patricio Pitbull at 37 earlier this year.
‘The Spaniard’ improved his record to 31-7 and has wins over Patchy Mix (current UFC bantamweight), Enrique Barzola, Hiromasa Ougikubo, Eduardo Dantas Henry Corrales, Ricky Bandejas and now Jose Johnson.
Daniel Weichel wins in comeback fight after two years away
Archuleta wasn’t the only former Bellator star who got their hand raised this weekend.
Daniel Weichel, a welterweight tournament winner and two-time title challenger, came out of a two-year long retirement to fight in the main event of OKTAGON 76.
It was a home game for Weichel in Frankfurt, Germany—the first of his 58-fight career.
Weichel defeated Abou Tounkara via unanimous decision after three rounds of action. This was Weichel’s first win since he beat Robert Whiteford at Bellator 281 in 2022.
The 40-year-old Bellator veteran snapped a two-fight losing skid.