Bellator Bantamweight GP Bracket Released: Wild Cards Featured; James Gallagher Out

.@BellatorMMA’s version of March Madness pic.twitter.com/Ez9zgy2MFM

— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) March 24, 2022

The Bellator MMA bantamweight tournament is now on the books.

Per the organization, through its broadcast partner on CBS Sports, the Bellator bantamweight grand prix has its bracket. Instead of eight men, there will be ten, although two will be eliminated on April 28 to make it an even eight. Parts of the tourney, including the Bellator 279 meetings of Juan Archuleta vs. Raufeon Stots for the interim strap, as well as Patrick Mix vs. Kyoji Horiguchi, had already been announced previously. The new additions include Jornel Lugo, Danny Sabatello, Enrique Barzola and Josh Hill.

At Bellator 278 on April 22, the two wild card bouts will go on to determine who faces Leandro Higo and Magomed Magomedov in the quarterfinals. James Gallagher was initially expected to take on Magomedov, but he withdrew due to an injury that will require surgery. The news of that was first reported by Sports Illustrated on Wednesday. The victor between Lugo and Sabatello will face off against Higo, while the one getting their hand raised after Barzola vs. Hill gets to fight Magomedov. From there, the tournament will continue as any normal single-elimination tourney would, with those subsequent winners in the semifinals.

While Hill (21-4) was initially tapped as an alternate following his December destruction of Jared Scoggins, that slot was revoked in favor of him having to win a “play-in” contest with Barzola. The well-traveled Hill had pulled off two wins under the Bellator banner in 2020 before running into Stots in May 2021, and he fell short by decision to end his four-fight win streak. His opponent Barzola (17-5-2) made a splash by laying waste to ex-champ Darrion Caldwell in January in his organizational debut, and also put an end to a stoppage-free 10-fight stretch in the process.

Earning the right to take on Higo will be bantamweights Lugo and Sabatello, who combine for just one defeat between them. Lugo (8-0) has made the most of his five outings in the Bellator cage, winning all five, including four on the scorecards. His three-round win over Brian Moore in February elevated him into contention for this tournament. Like his foe, Sabatello (11-1) also won his last fight by decision, taking out Brett Johns in May 2021 in his first fight with the company. The American Top Team prospect has rattled off five straight wins, including one on Dana White's Contender Series that did not net him a contract.

Per CBS Sports, Pettis will remain the disputed bantamweight champ, with his injury that will keep him out of the entire tournament. The interim belt between Archuleta and Stots will carry through their bracket, with it on the line each time its holder fights. At the end of the grand prix, the final triumphant fighter will get a chance to unify their interim title against Sergio Pettis.