Juan Archuleta

Juan Archuleta (born September 13, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the bantamweight divisions of Bellator MMA and Rizin Fighting Federation, where in the latter promotion, he is the former Rizin Bantamweight Champion.

A professional MMA competitor since 2013, he has also previously fought for King of the Cage and the World Series of Fighting.

After a successful run in King of the Cage, Archuleta signed with Bellator MMA.

[8] For his next fight, Archuleta entered the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix and in the opening round, he received a Featherweight title shot against champion Patrício Freire at Bellator 228 on September 28, 2019.

[14] Archuleta lost the bout after getting knocked out by a head kick and then finished on the ground with elbows at the beginning of the third round.

[18] Archuleta faced former Road FC and ONE Championship Bantamweight Champion Soo Chul Kim at Bellator MMA vs. Rizin on December 31, 2022.

[23] However on July 18 it was announced that Asakura withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Hiromasa Ougikubo.

[30] Archuleta faced Razhabali Shaydullaev at Rizin 48 on September 29, 2024, and lost the bout via armbar submission in the first round.

[31] After being deemed academically ineligible to continue wrestling at Purdue University, Archuleta succumbed to alcohol addiction and crime.

He eventually served a prison stint prior to becoming a mixed martial artist.