Bellator 242: A Detailed Recap of the Thrilling MMA Event
Bellator 242 took place on July 24, 2020, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Sergio Pettis defeated Ricky Bandejas by unanimous decision as Bellator returned from its pandemic shutdown. Jason Jackson won the welterweight co-main event, while Aaron Pico and Raufeon Stots earned submission victories.
Main Card Highlights
The main event saw former UFC flyweight contender Sergio Pettis register his second win in two Bellator fights. Pettis outpointed Ricky Bandejas via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), positioning himself for a possible shot at the promotion’s vacant bantamweight title.
The co-main event featured a welterweight clash between Jordan Mein and Jason Jackson. Jackson welcomed Mein to the promotion by handing him a unanimous decision defeat (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
The main card also saw a featherweight bout between Tywan Claxton and Jay Jay Wilson. Despite Wilson missing weight by 1.9 pounds at the weigh-ins, he managed to secure a split decision victory (27-30, 29-28, 30-27).
Notable Performances
One of the standout performances of the night came from Aaron Pico, who registered the first submission victory of his career. Pico defeated Solo Hatley Jr. via a first-round rear-naked choke. Pico submitted Solo Hatley Jr. with a rear-naked choke in the first round.
Preliminary Card Highlights
The preliminary card also had its share of exciting moments. Mark Lemminger defeated Jake Smith via TKO (strikes) in the second round. Raufeon Stots submitted Cass Bell via a rear-naked choke in the third round. Lastly, Ras Hylton secured a unanimous decision victory over Rudy Schaffroth.
Event Perspective
Pettis won every round on all three judges’ cards, taking a 30–27 unanimous decision. Jackson defeated Jordan Mein by the same three scores. These were clear three-round victories, with the bantamweight championship itself still vacant after the event.
Pico submitted Solo Hatley Jr. with a rear-naked choke in round one, and Stots used the same method against Cass Bell in round three. Mark Lemminger stopped Jake Smith in round two, while Ras Hylton outpointed Rudy Schaffroth. The supporting card combined finishes with full-distance work as competition resumed.
Why the Event Mattered
The event marked Bellator’s return to action after the cancellation of its March card and the ensuing shutdown. Its historical importance rests on both the resumption of competition and the recorded results. Pettis’s strong decision added to the bantamweight title picture without being a championship win that night.
Sources
MMA Fighting: Bellator 242 results; MMA Fighting: event recap; Event results record.
Article Tags
Bellator, Bellator 242, Mixed Martial Arts
