Archuleta vs Kim

Who won Archuleta vs Kim?

Juan Archuleta beat Soo Chul Kim by split decision in their 3 round contest during the main card of Bellator MMA vs. RIZIN, on Saturday 31st December 2022 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama.

The scorecards were announced in favor of the winner Juan Archuleta.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 3 rounds in the Bantamweight division, which meant the weight limit was 135 pounds (9.6 stone or 61.2 KG).

Archuleta vs Kim stats

Juan Archuleta stepped into the octagon with a record of 26 wins, 4 losses and 0 draws, 11 of those wins coming by the way of knock out and 1 by submission.

Soo Chul Kim made his way to the cage with a record of 18 wins, 6 losses and 1 draw, 6 of those wins coming by knock out and 5 by submission.

This was Juan Archuleta's 12th fight in Bellator, having made his debut for the promotion in 2018. Soo Chul Kim marked his 1st fight for them, having made his own debut for the promotion in 2022.

Juan Archuleta's Bellator record stood at 9-3-0, while Soo Chul Kim's came in at 0-1-0.

The stats suggested Archuleta had a slight advantage in power over Kim, with a 42% knock out percentage over Kim's 33%.

If the fight went to the ground, their records suggested Kim had a large advantage over Archuleta, boasting a 28% submission rate over Archuleta's 4%.

Juan Archuleta was the older man by 4 years, at 36 years old.

Archuleta was arguably the more experienced fighter, having had 5 more fights, and made his debut in 2013, 3 years later than Kim, whose first professional fight was in 2010. He had fought 35 more professional rounds, 101 to Kim's 66.

Archuleta vs Kim form

Juan Archuleta had beaten 3 of his last 5 opponents.

In his last fight before this contest, he had lost to Kleber Koike Erbst at RIZIN 47 on 9th June 2024 by submission in the 1st round at Yoyogi National Stadium, Shibuya, Japan.

Previous to that, he had been beaten by Kai Asakura at RIZIN 45 on 31st December 2023 by knockout in the 2nd round in their Rizin Bantamweight championship fight at Saitama Super Arena, Saitama.

Going into that contest, he had won against Hiromasa Ougikubo at Super RIZIN 2 on 30th July 2023 by unanimous decision in their Rizin Bantamweight championship fight at Saitama Super Arena, Saitama.

Before that, he had beaten Naoki Inoue at RIZIN 42 on 6th May 2023 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at Tokyo Ariake Arena, Tokyo.

He had defeated Soo Chul Kim at Bellator MMA vs. RIZIN on 31st December 2022 by split decision in their 3 round contest at Saitama Super Arena, Saitama.

Activity check

Archuleta's last 5 fights had come over a period of 1 year, 6 months and 23 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 3 months and 24 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 12 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.4 rounds on average.

What were the odds on Archuleta vs Kim?

Juan Archuleta was a 4/7 (-180) favourite going into the contest, while Soo Chul Kim made his way into the ring at 5/4 (+130) with oddsmakers.