Julia Budd Believes Bellator Has the Best Female Featherweights in the World
Bellator
MMA women's featherweight champion Julia Budd is
scheduled to defend her title against the undefeated Olga Rubin
on July 12 in Thackerville, Oklahoma. Budd will end a year's long
layoff when she returns to the cage to headline Bellator
224.
"The Jewel" spoke to James Lynch of The Score MMA and provided a partial explanation for why she didn't defend her belt sooner. "We had to come to terms - I signed a four-fight deal with Bellator. I went down there in March and sat down with Scott Coker, Rich Chu, Mike Hogan, and we came to a really good agreement and, yeah, I'm really excited about what the next four fights look like."
Even before closing her new deal with Bellator brass, Budd expected
that "Big Bad" would likely be her next opponent and didn't
hesitate to accept the fight. "I know that she's undefeated. I've
watched all of her fights in Bellator," said Budd. "I've kind of
been studying her. I keep an eye on all the girls in my division,
obviously. But I kind of knew that she was gonna be the next one
for me. I had watched her fight in February, and I just know her
style, and we said yes right away. We're excited about it."
Budd owns an impressive mixed martial arts record of 12-2, winning her last 10 fights in a row. The 35-year-old's only losses, which go back to 2011, have come against two of the most famous female MMA fighters of all time - Ronda Rousey and Amanda Nunes.
With the UFC's current 145-pound roster down to only four fighters, Budd feels confident that Bellator has the superior featherweight class. "We're the best. The best featherweights in the world. And it's only going up from here," declared the champ. With that in mind, the Muay Thai specialist expects to make quick work of her 6-0 opponent. "Absolutely, I don't see it going all five rounds. I'm ready for all five rounds but I plan on finishing it early," predicts Budd.
Bellator 224 touches down at the Winstar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Oklahoma, on July 12 and will stream live on Dazn starting at 6:30 p.m. ET.
"The Jewel" spoke to James Lynch of The Score MMA and provided a partial explanation for why she didn't defend her belt sooner. "We had to come to terms - I signed a four-fight deal with Bellator. I went down there in March and sat down with Scott Coker, Rich Chu, Mike Hogan, and we came to a really good agreement and, yeah, I'm really excited about what the next four fights look like."
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Budd owns an impressive mixed martial arts record of 12-2, winning her last 10 fights in a row. The 35-year-old's only losses, which go back to 2011, have come against two of the most famous female MMA fighters of all time - Ronda Rousey and Amanda Nunes.
With the UFC's current 145-pound roster down to only four fighters, Budd feels confident that Bellator has the superior featherweight class. "We're the best. The best featherweights in the world. And it's only going up from here," declared the champ. With that in mind, the Muay Thai specialist expects to make quick work of her 6-0 opponent. "Absolutely, I don't see it going all five rounds. I'm ready for all five rounds but I plan on finishing it early," predicts Budd.
Bellator 224 touches down at the Winstar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Oklahoma, on July 12 and will stream live on Dazn starting at 6:30 p.m. ET.
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