Bellator bantamweight grand prix alternate Josh Hill is booked for the same weekend the bracket kicks off.
At Bellator 278, Hill (21-4 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) will face former UFC fighter Enrique Barzola (17-5-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) in a three-round bantamweight bout. The event takes place April 22 at Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu.
Two people with knowledge of the matchup recently informed MMA Junkie of the booking but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.
Hill (21-4 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) earned his spot as an alternate in December when he knocked out Jared Scoggins in violent fashion at Bellator 272. The win made Hill victorious in five of his most recent six, with his only loss coming against the next bantamweight title challenger, Raufeon Stots.
In his first bout since his UFC departure, Barzola promotionally debuted at Bellator 273 in January when he became the first man to stop former Bellator bantamweight champion Darrion Caldwell with strikes.
Bellator 278 takes place one night before Bellator 279, set for the same location and venue. The two-event doubleheader is Bellator’s first in Hawaii since December 2019, and its third overall.
With the addition, the Bellator 278 lineup includes:
- Enrique Barzola vs. Josh Hill
- Cee Jay Hamilton vs. Jared Scoggins
