Bellator 258: Archuleta vs. Pettis was a

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on strike (attack), striking, grappling and ground f ...

event produced by

Bellator MMA Bellator MMA (formerly Bellator Fighting Championships) is an American mixed martial arts promotion founded in 2008 and based in Santa Monica, California, owned and operated as a subsidiary of television and media conglomerate Paramount Glob ...

that took place on May 7, 2021 at

Mohegan Sun Arena The Mohegan Sun Arena is a 10,000 seat multi-purpose arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, located inside the Mohegan Sun casino resort. The arena facility features of configurable exhibition space and a clear span. It was built by the Perini Buil ...

Uncasville, Connecticut Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut, United States. It is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River where it flows into the Thames River. The name is now applied more generally to all of the ...

. This fight card is notable for being Anthony Johnson's final fight before his death.

Background

The event was headlined by current Bellator Bantamweight World Champion

Juan Archuleta Juan Archuleta (born September 13, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division of Bellator MMA, and he is the former Bellator Bantamweight Champion. A professional MMA competitor since 2013, he has also ...

making his first title defense against

Sergio Pettis Sergio Jerome Pettis (born August 18, 1993) is an American mixed martial artist who is currently signed with Bellator MMA, where he is the current Bellator Bantamweight Champion. Prior to signing with Bellator, Pettis competed in the Ultimate Fig ...

. The co-main was to feature a Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament quarterfinal bout between former UFC Middleweight Title contender

Yoel Romero Yoel Romero Palacio (born April 30, 1977) is a Cuban professional mixed martial artist and former freestyle wrestler. He currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division for Bellator MMA. Romero formerly competed in the Middleweight divis ...

facing off against former UFC Light-Heavyweight Title contender Anthony Johnson in their debuts for the promotion after the bout was moved from

Bellator 257 Bellator 257: Nemkov vs. Davis 2 was a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator MMA that took place on April 16, 2021 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Background The event was headlined by two of the Quarterfinals of the B ...

to this event. On April 29, it was announced that Romero had failed his medicals due to an eye issue and the bout was pulled from the card. Romero was also pulled from the Grand Prix. The next day, it was announced that José Augusto Azevedo would replace Romero in the bout and the Grand Prix. Former Bellator Bantamweight title challenger

Patchy Mix Patrick "Patchy" Mix (born August 16, 1993) is an American professional mixed martial artist, currently signed to Bellator MMA where he competes in the Bantamweight division. As of February 1, 2022, he is #2 in the Bellator Bantamweight Rankings ...

was expected to face James Gallagher. However, Gallagher pulled out on April 16 due to undisclosed reasons. UFC alum

Albert Morales Albert Morales (born May 25, 1991) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division. He has also competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and of Bellator MMA. Background Born and raised in Southern Califor ...

was announced as a replacement. A lightweight bout between

Patricky Freire Patricky Freire (born January 21, 1986), known professionally by his ring name Patricky Pitbull, is a Brazilian mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist currently competing in Bellator MMA, Bellator's Lightweight (MMA), Lightweight division, wher ...

and

Peter Queally Peter Queally (born February 19, 1989) is an Irish mixed martial artist currently competing in Bellator's Lightweight division. A professional competitor since 2012, he has also competed for Extreme Fighting Championship, BAMMA, Cage Warri ...

also took place at the event. A welterweight fight between

Logan Storley Logan Storley (born September 8, 1992) is an American professional mixed martial artist and graduated folkstyle wrestler. He currently competes in the welterweight division of Bellator MMA, where he is the current Interim Bellator Welterweight ...

and Killys Mota was to serve as the main card opener. However, Mota withdrew from the bout due to lingering issues after contracting

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickl ...

. Mota was replaced by Omar Hussein.

Michael Page Michael Jerome Reece-Pagewkaassociation.com, Retrieved 28 August 2017. (born 7 April 1987) is a British kickboxer, boxer, and mixed martial artist. He is recognised in the MMA community for his unorthodox fighting style, which originated fro ...

and Derek Anderson were announced as the replacement opening bout. A welterweight bout between

and the debuting Omar Hussein was canceled on fight day before the event began, as Hussein was not medically cleared to compete.

Érik Pérez Érik Gregorio Pérez Ruvalcaba (born November 19, 1989) is a Mexican mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division of the Bellator MMA promotion. A professional competitor since 2008, he has competed for Shark Fights, BAMMA, UF ...

was scheduled to face Brian Moore at this event. However, Moore tested positive for COVID and pulled out of the bout. He was replaced by Blaine Shutt. A women's flyweight bout between Valerie Loureda and Hannah Guy was set for this event, but was moved to

Bellator 259 Bellator 259: Cyborg vs. Smith 2 was a mixed martial arts event that was produced by Bellator MMA at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Background The event featured a Bellator Women's Featherweight Championship bout between the ch ...

. A middleweight bout between

Lorenz Larkin Lorenz Larkin (born September 3, 1986) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division of Bellator MMA. A professional competitor since 2009, Larkin formerly competed for Strikeforce and the Ulti ...

and Costello van Steenis was planned for this event. On April 27, it was announced that van Steenis suffered an injury during training and pulled out of the bout. On six days notice, former

Bellator Middleweight Champion Bellator MMA (formerly known as "Bellator Fighting Championships") is an American mixed martial arts promotion, and the following is a history of its champions in each weight class. At the time of its inception in 2008, CEO Bjorn Rebney founded B ...

Rafael Carvalho Rafael Carvalho de Souza (born 27 July 1986) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions of Bellator MMA, where he was a former Bellator Middleweight World Champion. As ...

was announced as the replacement. A lightweight bout between Bryce Logan and Alan Omer was planned for this event. However, on April 29, Logan pulled out due to injury and the bout was scrapped altogether. At weigh-ins, Johnny Soto came in at 148.5 pounds, 2.5 pounds over the featherweight limit. The fight proceeded as a catchweight matchup, with a percentage of Soto's purse going to Almeida.

Results

References

{{2021 in mixed martial arts Bellator MMA events Events in Uncasville, Connecticut 2021 in mixed martial arts May 2021 sports events in the United States 2021 in sports in Connecticut Mixed martial arts in Connecticut Sports competitions in Connecticut

Background

Results

See also

References