Sergio Pettis clinched a bantamweight title shot with a technological show of mastery towards Ricky Bandejas that netted a unanimous conclusion in Bellator 242’s headliner.
Pettis picked up unanimous 30-27 scores by shutting down Bandejas’ striking attack and landing punishing calf kicks and punches that established the tone in excess of 15 minutes.
Bellator 242 took location Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena with no fans and rigorous COVID-19 protocols in area. It was the ViacomCBS-owned promotion’s very first celebration since the previous-moment cancelation of Bellator 241 in March owing to the pandemic.
Pettis stalked Bandejas from the opening bell, returning challenging leg kicks and sneaking in pictures that scored close to the cage. Right after acquiring tagged at distance, Bandejas labored inside of and pulled off a big takedown. He didn’t get much probability to perform, nevertheless, as Pettis righted himself and fired off a different higher kick.
A kicking war opened the next body, and Pettis ongoing to push and land big punches. Calf kicks hobbled Bandejas’ harmony, prompting him to shoot again. This time, Pettis rapidly reversed and bought again to his ft, where he continued to snipe at Bandejas’ calf.
Admonished by his corner to go following Pettis, Bandejas experimented with to get in his opponent’s experience. In return, he took a lot more calf kicks and appeared more and more hesitant to hearth back. Pettis took full edge, setting up big appropriate palms punches to the cage. In the closing minutes, Pettis received looser, throwing all fashion of spin kicks and punches. A remaining force from Bandejas wasn’t adequate to reverse momentum.
Pettis picked up his third straight gain and 2nd underneath the Bellator banner. He’s expected to fulfill the winner of an upcoming title combat amongst Patrick “Patchy” Blend and Juan Archuleta, who was pressured to withdraw from a prepared struggle for the vacant belt soon after a bout with COVID-19.
Jason Jackson spoils Jordan Mein’s Bellator debut
Soon after two several years absent from combating, Jordan Mein sought to start contemporary in Bellator. Instead, Jason Jackson sent him again to the drawing board.
Bouncing around like he was at a sparring session, Mein hoped to catch Jackson napping with swift attacks from length. Jackson, nevertheless, brilliantly countered when Jordan obtained too close, landing a correct hand that sent the UFC vet backpedaling to the fence.
Mein engaged more instantly in the next, and he paid out for it when he took a leg kick that pressured him to swap stances. Mein seemed for much better luck with a takedown, but Jackson stayed upright and commenced to take up extra and additional harm. Jackson’s combinations had been quicker and a lot more exact, and a late takedown set an exclamation stage on the frame.
Jackson attacked his opponent’s hurt leg from the begin of the final frame, earning it more complicated than ever for Mein to produce power for his strikes. A takedown attempt was easily stuffed by Jackson, and a right hand put Mein down. Receiving up bit by bit, Mein did his very best to muster an offense, but his entire body struggled to cooperate. A last-ditch throw attempt ended with Jackson on major, smothering Mein to the ultimate bell.
The closing scores were being all 30-27 in favor of Jackson, who picked up his 2nd straight earn. Mein goes back to the loss column immediately after two wins in the UFC.
Jay Jay Wilson’s in the vicinity of-overlook submissions gain day in excess of Tywan Claxton
Jay Jay Wilson’s potent get started and finish won the working day more than Tywan Claxton, even while the final scores wasn’t fully reflective of what transpired in the cage.
Willson arrived out with a quite clear goal in brain, and that was to just take Claxton to the canvas, where by he could operate his submission abilities. Sooner or later, he was in a position to produce a scramble, and from there, he swiftly capitalized. A transfer to mount forced Claxton to give up his back again, and he was compelled to protect his neck prior to a slick reversal gave him top rated place and time for a number of photographs from up leading.
It was a robust start off for Wilson. But aside from quite a few kicks to the entire body and legs, he was smothered and outstruck for a lot of the next and third body. Only in the last moment of the 3rd round was he ready to put Claxton in serious danger, jumping into a triangle that experienced Claxton scrambling to prevent a tap.
Claxton, who’s dropped to 1-2 in his past 3 outings, instantly protested two scores of 29-28 and 30-27 with a single choose dissenting 30-27 in his favor. Wilson celebrated the extension of his unbeaten pro streak to six pro fights.
Aaron Pico makes use of grappling, swiftly rolls Solo Hatley Jr.
Bellator star Aaron Pico made a decision not to permit Solo Hatley Jr. exam his chin as promised. Within just the initially moment, Pico grounded his foe and pounded absent with punches and elbows. Hatley Jr. turned to stay clear of the harm, and that was all she wrote. Flattened out, Hatley Jr. tapped out to a rear-naked choke seconds later on.
With specialist use of 1 of his main skillsets, Pico prolonged his recent winning streak to two fights and put far more distance concerning him and a pair of knockouts that endangered his prolonged-phrase viability as a Bellator star.
Comprehensive Bellator 242 success:
Sergio Pettis def. Ricky Bandejas by way of unanimous selection (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Jason Jackson def. Jordan Mein by way of unanimous final decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Jay Jay Wilson def. Tywan Claxton by using break up determination (27-30, 29-28, 30-27)
Aaron Pico def. Solo Hatley Jr. through submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:10
Mark Lemminger def. Jake Smith by way of TKO (strikes) – Spherical 2, 4:46
Raufeon Stots def. Cass Bell through submission (rear-bare choke) – Round 3, 1:24
Ras Hylton def. Rudy Schaffroth by means of unanimous conclusion (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
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