Capturing the vacant Bellator Bantamweight Championship, Juan Archuleta picked up a unanimous decision win against the previously undefeated Patchy Mix after five rounds of action.
The win was the main event for Saturday night’s Bellator card, Bellator 246, the second of a doubleheader put on by the promotion at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, USA without a live audiance.
The close fight saw two of the judges give two rounds of the fight to Mix in the end (49-46, 48-47 & 48-47).
Mix had the better start in the fight, although as the fight passed into the later rounds Archuleta was able to take over.
Archuleta’s best round was the last one, where Mix got hurt by combinations of punches to the body and head.
Pitbull had fought for a title in Bellator before, having lost a 2019 bout to the Bellator Featherweight Champion, Patricio Pitbull.
“After I lost my Pitbull fight I was so devastated … Cub Swanson, he showed he how to battle through adversity,” said Archuleta in his post-fight interview, crediting UFC fighter Swanson in part for his win.
Losing the fight, Mix’s 13-fight undefeated run since his 2016 debut was stopped. The run concluded an eight-fight series of finish victories, two of which came on a Bellator card (a third one on a RIZIN card co-promoted by Bellator).
Fitch Retires Following Loss To Gracie
A second-round heel hook victory for Neiman Gracie sounded the end to Jon Fitch’s MMA career, as the former UFC fighter and WSOF Welterweight Champion announced his retirement after the fight.
The finish saw Gracie grab a leg on the bottom position, slowly applying the hold while Fitch failed to stop him.
“It’s been a long journey. My body’s been through a lot … It’s time to go,” said Fitch in his post-fight interview.
Fitch joined the UFC in 2005, working his way up to a title shot in 2008 after eight consecutive wins. He lost a title fight to Georges St. Pierre at UFC 87. Putting together another series of wins, Fitch earned 14 wins through 19 fights in the UFC before his 2013 departure.
Fitch fought in WSOF (now known as the PFL) from 2013 to 2016, claiming the promotion’s belt in 2016 after a win over Joao Zeferino. He defended the belt once, defeating Jake Shields in 2016.
After his fight on Saturday, Fitch revealed that he had planned since that fight to retire the next time he lost.
He joined Bellator in 2018 with a win over Paul Daley. He went to a draw with Rory MacDonald, the promotion’s welterweight champion, in April of 2019.
The win for Gracie saw him bounce back from a loss, having lost a title shot to MacDonald in June of 2019. Gracie put together seven wins in Bellator from 2015 to 2018, stopping six of those opponents.
Carmouche Finishes Bennett In Bellator Debut
Liz Carmouche had a strong Bellator debut on the main card, finishing DeAnna Bennett in the third round via rear naked choke. The choke caused Bennett to tap out shortly after Carmouch applied it.
Carmouche had Bennett in trouble in the second round, trying for a heel hook for a minute on the ground.
“I’m starting fresh … I want to work my way to the top,” said Carmouche in her post-fight interview.
Carmouche’s previous fight was her last in the UFC, losing a championship fight to Valentina Shevchenko.
News of Carmouche’s signing with Bellator was reported back in December. Carmouche was booked to face Mandy Bohm in May before COVID-19 forced Bellator to cancel shows.
The fight was also Bennett’s debut, who had prior experience in Invicta FC.
Carmouche earned her first stoppage win since 2013.
Diggs Remains Undefeated
The main card kicked off with a win for Keoni Diggs, choking out Derek Campos late with a rear naked choke. The fight saw Diggs retain his undefeated record, winning his second under the Bellator banner.
The win finished a strong performance from Diggs which saw him nearly get a win in the first round with the same choke.
Preliminary Card Results
The show had three fights on their prelims. Here are the results.
Bout 3: Daniel Madrid def. Pat Casey via Decision, Split
Bout 2: Ty Gwerder def. George Tokkos via TKO, Strikes (RD 3, 1:05)
Bout 1: Davion Franklin def. Ras Hylton via Technical Decision, Unanimous
Knockdown News 