Bellator 228 Results: Pitbull vs. Archuleta
Bellator 228 took place at The Forum in Inglewood, California, where Pitbull defended his featherweight title against Archuleta. The event was headlined by Gegard Mousasi’s rematch with Lyoto Machida, with Patricio “Pitbull” Freire defending his featherweight title against Juan Archuleta in the co-main event, and also featured the completion of the first round of the Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix.
The Co-Main Event: Pitbull vs. Archuleta
In the co-main event, Patricio “Pitbull” Freire defended his featherweight title against Juan Archuleta. The fight was a bloody battle, with Pitbull emerging victorious by unanimous decision. The judges scored the fight 49-46, 50-45, and 49-46 in favor of Pitbull, who showcased his explosive athleticism, accurate hooks and crosses, and underrated wrestling ability. Despite the loss, Archuleta proved his mettle, demonstrating relentless pace, pressure, and improved striking flow.
The Main Event: Machida vs. Mousasi
The main event saw a rematch between former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida and ex-Bellator champ Gegard Mousasi. The fight was a tactical affair, with both fighters wary of the other’s striking advantages. Mousasi managed to land more frequently and effectively in the first two rounds, including a shot in the first round that sent Machida flying backward. Machida, however, outstruck Mousasi in the third round, even attempting a guillotine choke that Mousasi was in until the bell. Mousasi won the fight via split decision.
Featherweight Grand Prix Highlights
Bellator 228 also marked the completion of the first round of the Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix. Notable fights included A.J. McKee’s knockout win over Georgi Karakhanyan in just 8 seconds of the first round, and Darrion Caldwell’s unanimous decision victory over Henry Corrales. Daniel Weichel also emerged victorious, defeating Saul Rogers via unanimous decision.
Following the conclusion of the fights, a “selection show” was held to determine the quarterfinal matchups of the Featherweight Grand Prix. The final matchups included A.J. McKee vs. Derek Campos in December, Darrion Caldwell vs. Adam Borics in January, Daniel Weichel vs. Emmanuel Sanchez in February, and Patricio Pitbull vs. Pedro Carvalho in March.
Conclusion
Freire retained the featherweight title with a unanimous-decision win over Archuleta, while Mousasi defeated Machida by split decision in the main event. The card also completed the opening round of the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix.
Sources
MMA Fighting; MMA Fighting’s full Bellator 228 results; Event results record.
Article Tags
Bellator, Bellator 228, Mixed Martial Arts
