4 burning questions heading into Bellator 242

UFC on ESPN 10 features a card packed with up-and-coming talent looking to set themselves up for bigger tests later in the year.

Bantamweight contenders collide in the main event, as Ricky Bandejas takes on former UFC flyweight contender Sergio Pettis, while the co-main event features the Bellator debut of former UFC veteran Jordan Mein, who will face fellow welterweight contender Jason Jackson.

Bellator 242 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Paramount and DAZN following prelims on YouTube and DAZN.

Let’s take a look at four burning questions heading into the event.

****

Which bantamweight contender will move one step closer to a title shot?

The Bellator bantamweight strap is up for grabs after Kyoji Horiguchi relinquished the title due to injury last year, and the winner of Friday’s main event is likely to punch their ticket for a shot at the unclaimed title later this year. The big question, of course, is which of Bellator 242’s headliners will move on to challenge for the gold?

Ricky Bandejas exploded to Bellator stardom when he knocked out James Gallagher in August 2018, but failed to capitalize on that momentum as he fell to back-to-back losses to Juan Archuleta and Patchy Mix. Since then, however, Bandejas (13-3 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) has found his form once again and registered a pair of knockout wins over Ahmet Kayretli and Frans Mlambo to put himself right back into the title picture.

Now he faces Bellator new boy Sergio Pettis (19-5 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), who announced his arrival in the promotion’s bantamweight division with an eye-catching first-round submission of Alfred Khashakyan at Bellator 238 in January – his first finish since his pre-UFC days back in 2013. Following his impressive debut, the former UFC flyweight contender will now look to defeat Bandejas and position himself for a shot at championship gold.

But who will leave the Mohegan Sun one step closer to a title shot? Will it be New Jersey knockout artist Bandejas, or will Pettis claim back-to-back Bellator victories to push himself to the front of the queue?

Next up: A veteran turns debutant in his 44th pro fight