Eduardo Dantas moves up to featherweight, faces Juan Archuleta at Bellator 222

MMAfighting.com

Eduardo Dantas will switch things up for his return to the Bellator cage.

The former Bellator bantamweight champion has decided to move up to 145 pounds and take on Juan Archuleta in the main card portion of Bellator 222 at Madison Square Garden, New York, on June 14, promotion officials confirmed to MMA Fighting.

Dantas (21-6) is coming off a decision victory over Toby Misech in February, bouncing back from a title loss to Darrion Caldwell in 2017 and fracturing his ankle in his quick defeat to Michael McDonald nine months later.

“Dudu” has fought under the Bellator banner since 2011, compiling an 11-3 record that includes wins over Joe Warren, Marcos Galvao (twice), Wilson Reis and Zach Makovsky.

Archuleta (22-1), unbeaten since 2015 with 17 straight victories, quickly racked up a 4-0 record in a 10-month span under the Bellator banner. The 31-year-old fighter dropped to bantamweight to defeat Ricky Bandejas earlier this year, and also holds a third-round knockout win over featherweight Robbie Peralta.

Bellator 222 will be headlined by a welterweight title bout between Rory MacDonald and Neiman Gracie, MMA Fighting confirmed following a report by MMAjunkie. The winner will advance to the 170-pound tournament final against Douglas Lima.

The stacked card also includes a light heavyweight showdown between Chael Sonnen and Lyoto Machida, and a rematch between Bellator bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell and Rizin’s 135-pound king Kyoji Horiguchi. Dillon Danis vs. Max Humphrey and Aaron Pico vs. Adam Boricsare also set for MSG.