Juan Archuleta is making it clear he wants his chance in the UFC.
The ex-Bellator and RIZIN Bantamweight Champion continued his recent momentum, securing back-to-back victories over the weekend in Las Vegas.
Earlier this year, he broke a three-fight losing streak with a flying knee knockout at BORROKA 3 – a finish that turned heads and put another title on his CV.
The California native has spent years training alongside TJ Dillashaw and Cub Swanson, and now he is hoping to join them in the UFC. However, at 38, he is aware that time is not on his side.
Still waiting for a call from the promotion, Archuleta made his 38th professional appearance when he went up against Jose Johnson over the weekend.
Juan Archuleta wants UFC shot after submitting 6’0″ Jose Johnson
Archuleta held onto his BORROKA featherweight belt with a second-round submission win over Jose Johnson, who is known for being the tallest fighter to ever compete in the UFC’s flyweight division.
Johnson, who had two fights in the UFC before stepping in to face the 38-year-old, was quickly overwhelmed. The fight ended early with a rear-naked choke – just the second submission win of Archuleta’s career.
After the fight, he did not waste any time making his intentions clear. He called out UFC featherweight contenders Dan Ige and Diego Lopes, who was watching from cageside.
At 38 years old, this might be Archuleta’s last real window to get signed by the UFC. It is worth noting that earlier this year, they brought in former Bellator two-division champion Patricio Pitbull at age 37.
The win moved ‘The Spaniard’ to 31-7 overall. He already holds wins over Patchy Mix, Enrique Barzola, Hiromasa Ougikubo, Eduardo Dantas, Henry Corrales and Ricky Bandejas.
Daniel Weichel returns with a win after two-year layoff
Archuleta was not the only ex-Bellator name to come away with a win this weekend.
Two years after his retirement, Daniel Weichel, a former welterweight tournament winner and two-time title challenger, came back to the cage to headline OKTAGON 76.
The fight took place in Frankfurt, Germany, marking the first time Weichel had competed there in his long career. He came away with a unanimous decision win over Abou Tounkara after three rounds.
The victory was his first since 2022, when he defeated Robert Whiteford at Bellator 281, and snapped a two-fight losing streak for the 40-year-old.
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