Ricky Bandejas vs. Frans Mlambo booked for Bellator Dublin

Frans Mlambo will look to avenge SBG teammate James Gallagher’s loss to Ricky Bandejas when the former amateur world champion meets the American at Bellator Dublin at the 3 Arena on Feb. 22.

Bellator confirmed the preliminary bantamweight clash to MMA Fighting on Thursday.

The former CFFC champion got off to an emphatic start with Bellator when he handed Gallagher his first professional loss when he stopped the Irishman in the first round of their clash at Bellator 204. Despite the spectacular start, Bendejas then suffered two straight defeats when he bumped into surging contenders Juan Archuleta and Patchy Mix.

Bandejas regained parity to his Bellator record (2-2-0) when he stopped Ahmet Kayretli in the first round of their recent bout at Bellator 225.

Mlambo (8-4-0) has been in scintillating form since signing with Bellator, taking out two of the U.K.’s most promising bantamweights in former Cage Warriors flyweight champion Nathan Greyson and highly touted striking sensation Dominique Wooding.

Mlambo was catapulted into bouts against opponents with much greater experience with Brave CF on the back of his amateur world title win in 2015. All but one of his defeats came against opponents with far more experience than him at the time they met, but the SBG knockout artist looks like he’s ready to take on all comers following his recent success under the Bellator banner.

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