Bellator has shuffled its upcoming tournament after a pair of injuries to significant names.
Bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis and the popular James Gallagher are both out of the scheduled Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix, the promotion officially confirmed Thursday. Former champ Juan Archuleta will replace Pettis and fight Raufeon Stots for the interim title at Bellator 279 on April 23 in Hawaii. Archuleta vs. Stots will also act as a grand prix quarterfinal bout.
In place of Gallagher, Bellator has added two wild-card bouts, both of which will take place at Bellator 278 on April 22 in Hawaii. Jornel Lugo will face Danny Sabatello, and Enrique Barzola will meet Josh Hill. At a later date, the Lugo-Sabatello winner will fight Leandro Higo in the grand prix quarterfinals, and the Barzola-Hill winner will face Magomed Magomedov in the quarters.
In another quarterfinal bout, former champion Kyoji Horiguchi will face Patchy Mix at Bellator 279.
Bellator 278, a free show for U.S. military, veterans and first responders, will be headlined by a women's flyweight title fight between champion Juliana Velasquez and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Liz Carmouche, an MMA stalwart who fought Ronda Rousey in the UFC's first-ever women's fight in 2013.
Cris Cyborg headlines Bellator 279, defending her women's featherweight title in a rematch against Arlene Blencowe.
