MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down the Bellator’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for Bellator 242.
Bellator 242 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Paramount following prelims on YouTube.
Ricky Bandejas (13-3 MMA, 3-2 BMMA)
Staple info:
- Height: 5’10” Age: 28 Weight: 135 lbs. Reach: 70″
- Last fight: Knockout win over Frans Miambo (Feb. 22, 2020)
- Camp: American Top Team (Florida)
- Stance/striking style: Orthodox/muay Thai
- Risk management: Good
Supplemental info:
+ CFFC bantamweight title
+ Amateur MMA accolades
+ Wrestling base
+ 6 KO victories
+ 3 submission wins
+ 3 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Aggressive pace and pressure
+ Accurate hooks and crosses
^ Coming forward or off the counter
+ Hard kicks and knees
+ Strong inside of the clinch
+ Solid wrestling ability
^ Scrambles well
Sergio Pettis (19-5 MMA, 1-0 BMMA)
Staple info:
- Height: 5’6″ Age: 26 Weight: 135 lbs. Reach: 69″
- Last fight: Submission win over Alfred Kashakyan (Jan. 25, 2020)
- Camp: Roufusport (Milwaukee, WI)
- Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing
- Risk management: Good
Supplemental info:
+ RFA flyweight title
+ Taekwondo black belt (2nd degree)
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ 3 KO victories
+ 4 submission wins
+ 6 first-round finishes
+ Excellent footwork
+ Accurate jab and cross
^ Pulls and returns well
+ Dangerous head kicks
^ Strikes well off of the breaks
+ Improved wrestling ability
^ Good hips and wrist controls
+ Aggressive and attacking guard
Point of interest: Banging at bantamweight
The main event for Bellator 242 features a battle between one of bantamweight’s biggest bangers and a former flyweight who is very familiar with competing in this division.
Coming from a traditional taekwondo base, Sergio Pettis arguably has done a better job than his brother in regards to translating a striking process into the cage. Although Pettis is not as flashy as his brother (nor does he have the highlight reel to compare), there is an economical flow to the way in which he mixes his punches and kicks, and he also works at a much more consistent pace.
Not only does Pettis work in his kicking attacks seamlessly, but his point-fighting style of footwork has complemented his boxing nicely, utilizing his heightened sense of range to fuel his pulls and returns. Still, despite having accurate jab-cross continuums he works well from, Pettis will need to respect the power that Ricky Bandejas will be firing back at him.
Despite coming from a wrestling base, Bandejas seemingly has been gravitating toward banging things out on the feet as his career has progressed.
Having a knack for throwing hands since his time spent under Nick Catone and company in New Jersey, Bandejas has steadily added to his arsenal in recent years. Already keeping cross-hook combos on a hair-trigger, Bandejas will add a clever layer to his counter game as he subtly shifts to southpaw on the retreat in order to walk oncoming opposition into check-right hooks (a trick that Jacare Souza has been using for years).
Although Bendejas could accentuate his length with a little more jabs for my liking, the 28-year-old does a decent job of offering everything from front kicks to flying knees up the centerline, something that helps discourage level-changing threats. The now-American Top Team product has also added more leg and calf kicks to his repertoire, which will help his efforts at range.
Bandejas still shows to sometimes throw his kids nakedly (without setup), as well as a tendency to back up in straight lines with an upright head. That said, former CFFC champ does well when it comes to catching or countering kicks for his won agenda – though I’m not sure how eager Bandejas will be to follow Pettis to the floor.
Next point of interest: Scrambling for supremacy
Point of interest: Scrambling for supremacy
Considering Bandejas is the better wrestler on paper, I will be curious to see if Pettis will be looking to get anything going in transition.
Demonstrating good posture to go along with a consistent hand-fighting and underhook awareness, Pettis has gotten a lot better at holding his own inside of clinching scenarios over the years.
Working with Izzy Martinez in past camps, we have seen steady improvements to Pettis’ wrestling, especially in the transitional phases of his grappling. Already possessing crafty leg dexterity and wrist controls, Pettis now shows more process and understanding to his actions, as he was able to successfully navigate out of some tight spots in his last couple of UFC outings, as well as score a submission win in his promotional debut.
Still, given Bandejas’ wrestling chops and past grappling performances, don’t expect the New Jersey native to be a pushover for anyone.
Showing similar counter-wrestling tactics to the likes of a Max Holloway, Bandejas utilizes overhooks in order to hoist shorter opposition off of his hips, all while fighting grips with his free hand. And when he is the one doing the offensive wrestling, Bandejas does well in regards to both passing and positional awareness from topside.
Bandejas is also a solid scrambler who can be hard to control in the heat of the action, and is competent when it comes to securing chokes that become available. Even though his propensity to tripod up and inadvertently give his back cost him a crucial position against Patrick Mix, the 6-year pro seems to still be improving as his career trajectory would suggest.
For that reason, Pettis can not afford to be lackadaisical by giving away bad positions or control time should these two tangle on the floor for prolonged periods.
Next point of interest: Odds, opinion and prediction
Point of interest: Odds and opinions
The oddsmakers and public seem to be favoring the more familiar name, listing Pettis -145 and Bandejas +120 as of this writing.
Although I don’t disagree with Pettis being favored, I can also see why this is a closely lined fight considering that Bandejas is not one to be slept on.
Bandejas is no stranger to coming through in underdog spots, as he has more than enough power and competency to replicate Pettis’ lone knockout loss to Ryan Benoit back at UFC 185. However, as we saw in Pettis’ Bellator debut, his muscle memory, nor his intentions, are easily shook under fire.
It’s a deceptively hard call to make, but I’ll take Pettis’ crisper striking and overall process, as I see his counter crosses and high kicks having some real play from a stylistic standpoint. Bandejas will definitely have his moments throughout this fight, I’m just not sure it will be enough to secure the scorecards should he not score a stoppage before the final bell.
Prediction: Pettis by decision
