LOS ANGELES – Jornel Lugo had to go through the experience of his first loss nine months ago. Now the bantamweight would be more than happy to give that experience to Jaylon Bates. Lugo (8-1 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) and Bates (6-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) meet in a fight between a pair of highly touted Bellator up-and-coming 135-pounds on the Bellator 290 prelims Saturday. Lugo lost a decision to Danny Sabatello in April 2022 and was bounced from the bantamweight grand prix, of which Sabatello reached the final. That setback forced him to take his preparation to a new level.