Monster Energy praises A.J. McKee and Juan Archuleta for their wins at BELLATOR 286

LONG BEACH, California –– The hometown hero prevails! Monster Power congratulates A.J. McKee on defeating Spike Carlyle at Bellator 286 in Lengthy Seaside, California, on Saturday evening. Within the co-main occasion combat contested within the Bellator promotion’s light-weight division, the 27-year-old from Lengthy Seaside went the space over three rounds for a unanimous resolution victory (29-26, 30-26, 30-27).

Additionally on Saturday evening, Monster Power’s Juan Archuleta from Sultana, California, defeated Peru’s Enrique Barzola by way of unanimous resolution (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) of their 141-pound catchweight bout on the primary card.

BELLATOR 286: Pitbull vs. Borics was showcased in entrance of an electrified viewers at Lengthy Seaside Conference & Leisure Heart on October 1, 2022. The principle card was broadcast stay on Showtime, and the Monster Power Prelims streamed stay on YouTube.

Monster Power’s A.J. “Mercenary” McKee (19-1) stepped into the Octagon prepared to begin a brand new chapter after struggling the primary lack of his skilled profession towards Patricio “Pitbull” Freire at Bellator 277 in April 2022. That defeat value McKee the Bellator Featherweight World Champion title and ended the promotion’s longest victory streak – 18 wins – on file. Now competing at light-weight, McKee was targeted on persevering with his legacy.

McKee’s opponent at Bellator 286 was Spike “The Crucifixion” Carlyle (14-4) from San Diego, California, who got here rolling into Lengthy Seaside on a five-fight victory streak together with 4 submissions and one knockout. In different phrases: McKee had his work lower out for him!

The combat began with explosive vitality, as Carlyle sprinted right into a flying knee kick – sidestepped by McKee – adopted by a wild barrage of kicks and punches. As McKee returned fireplace, Carlyle landed a takedown, however the former 145-pound champion used his grappling experience to shift the steadiness in his favor and win the spherical.

Carlyle felt the total power of McKee’s impeccable grappling because the hometown hero locked in an anaconda choke in Spherical 2, leaving his opponent scrambling for the bell. Within the third and ultimate spherical, McKee asserted his dominance with a textbook takedown early within the spherical earlier than connecting a heavy elbow to the pinnacle that opened a lower above Carlyle’s proper eye.

Within the ultimate moments of the epic battle, Carlyle was lined in his personal blood whereas McKee nearly locked in a guillotine choke. Because the horn sounded, McKee managed his opponent from the highest and the 2 displayed good sportsmanship whereas awaiting the choose’s resolution: McKee received his light-weight debut by unanimous resolution (29-26, 30-26, 30-27).

“Ain’t nothing like a two-timer,” mentioned Monster Power’s McKee about competing within the upcoming Bellator Light-weight World Grand Prix and probably successful one other $1 million verify.

McKee made his Bellator debut in 2015 and trains with knowledgeable teaching from his father, MMA icon Antonio McKee, who already mentored licensed legends like Rampage Jackson and Chuck Liddell. He has constructed a milestone-heavy profession: McKee holds the file for many consecutive wins in Bellator historical past at 18 victories. He has additionally achieved most submission wins in Bellator featherweight historical past (six), and most stoppages within the featherweight division at 13. At Bellator 263, McKee received the Bellator Featherweight World Championship and $1 million Grand Prix. He’s now able to make his mark within the promotion’s light-weight division. Keep tuned!

Earlier on Saturday evening’s Bellator 286 foremost card, Monster Power’s Juan “The Spaniard” Archuleta (26-4) was seeking to get again on the winner’s bracket after two current losses towards Sergio Pettis at Bellator 258 and Raufeon Stots at Bellator 279. The previous Bellator bantamweight champion was dealing with a formidable adversary in Enrique Barzola (18-7) from Peru, able to get well from a loss towards Magomed Magomedov at Bellator 282 in June.

From the opening bell, Archuleta introduced the strain to Barzola and dominated by way of vital strikes. Nonetheless, Barzola returned fireplace with painful elbow strikes throughout clinches towards the fence and held his floor, however Archuleta dealt vital injury with an uppercut and heavy proper hand in Spherical 1.

The second spherical continued the battle for dominance, however it was Archuleta who landed a minimum of one vital takedown in every of the three rounds. The “Spaniard” additionally excelled in controlling the cage, leaving Barzola on the protection because the takedowns stored coming and Archuleta connects an enormous proper within the ultimate spherical.  

After three rounds of relentless battle, the judges pronounced Archuleta the winner by unanimous resolution (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

Talking on combating Barzola, Archuleta mentioned in his post-fight interview: “We knew how sturdy he was. We knew how good he’s. He beat Darrion Caldwell, who’s a former world champion as nicely. I didn’t need him to make his identify off me as nicely.” Keep tuned for extra from Archuleta now that he’s again within the victory column.

Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Government Author, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a ardour for Fight Sports activities and in addition a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s additionally a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.