In 2022 Bellator MMA will put on an eight-man Bantamweight World Grand Prix.
The announcement came during the main card of Bellator 272 where the main event will see Sergio Pettis & Koyji Horiguchi battling to see who will carry the Bellator Bantamweight world championship into the World Grand Prix. The Grand Prix winner will have to win three fights with the championship and a million dollar check at the end of the line.
Sergio Pettis (21-5) comes into Bellator 272 as the reigning champion and on a five-fight win streak that includes taking the championship from Juan Archuleta by unanimous decision at Bellator 258 and tonight’s comeback, spinning backfist knockout win.
Kyoji Horiguchi (29-3) is a former Bellator & Rizin Bantamweight champion who never lost the title but relinquished the belt following a knee injuring.
Juan Archuleta (25-3) is a former King of the Cage & Bellator champion. Archuleta captured the vacant Bellator Bantamweight championship defeating Patchy Mix at Bellator 246. His first title defense and last fight was the above-mentioned bout against Sergio Pettis.
Raufeon Stots (17-1) is a former Victory FC champion on a nine-fight win streak. Stots in 5-0 in Bellator including submitting Cass Bell, ad decision wins over tournament alternate Josh Hill and his last win over Magomed Magomedov who part of the field is too.
Leandro Higo (21-5) is a former RFA & LFA Bantamweight champion on a three-fight win streak. The last three wins have seen Higo submit Olympic wrestler Shawn Bunch, submit former CFFC champ Ricky Bandejas and take a split decision from former Bellator champion Darrion Caldwell.
Patchy Mix (15-1) is a former King of the Cage champion & Bellator title challenger. Mix has 12 finishes 11 by submission including his last two wins an arm triangle choke of UFC vet Albert Morales and a guillotine choke of James Gallagher in Ireland.
Magomed Magomedov (18-2) is a former ACB champion who holds a win over UFC champion Petr Yan. The Russian fighter won his first tow fights in Bellator a decision over Matheus Mattos & a submission of Cee Jay Hamilton before losing to Raufeon Stots.
James Gallagher (11-2) comes in having won four of his last five fights and with nine submission wins. The 25-year-old has collected sevens wins by rear naked choke like his last win over Callum Ellenor and the two by guillotine.
At Bellator 272 Josh Hill knocked out Jared Scoggins with and overhand right to earn the tournament alternate spot.
