The Bellator bantamweight grand prix took two big hits this week, leaving the promotion to scramble for a solution that has been found. The original eight-man tournament has become a 10-man tournament.
Thursday, Bellator announced two “wild card” bouts that feature four new fighters, which will take place April 22 at Bellator 278 in Honolulu. In one wild-card matchup, Jornel Lugo meets Danny Sabatello. On the other side of the bracket, a previously booked matchup between Enrique Barzola and Josh Hill becomes a wild-card bout. The winner of each fight will advance to the quarterfinals.
The winner of Lugo (8-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) vs. Sabatello (11-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) will move on to fight Leandro Higo, while the winner of Barzola (17-5-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) vs. Hill (21-4 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) will advance to face Magomed Magomedov.
Lugo vs Sabatello and Barzola vs Hill winners will advance. Both fights will be on the main card of Bellator 278 on Friday, April 22nd.
Stots-Archuleta and Mix-Horiguchi will be the next night at Bellator 279.
Both events from Hawaii and both to air on @SHOsports.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) March 24, 2022
The tournament shakeup comes on the heels of injury withdrawals from champion Sergio Pettis and James Gallagher earlier this week. Pettis had been booked to defend his title against Raufeon Stots, who now will meet former champ Juan Archuleta April 23 at Bellator 279. Gallagher had yet to be officially booked but was expected to be paired with Magomedov in a quarterfinal matchup.
With the tournament additions, here is the latest Bellator 278 lineup:
- Champ Juliana Velasquez vs. Liz Carmouche – for women’s flyweight title
- Jornel Lugo vs. Danny Sabatello – bantamweight grand prix wild card
- Enrique Barzola vs. Josh Hill – bantamweight grand prix wild card
- Cee Jay Hamilton vs. Jared Scoggins
