Marloes Coenen to Face Julia Budd for Featherweight Title at Bellator 155

Marloes Coenen and Julia Budd will square off at Bellator 155 for the promotion’s inaugural women’s featherweight crown.

Sherdog.com confirmed the matchup with a Bellator official on Friday after Bleacher Report first brought word of the bout. Coenen vs. Budd will serve as the card’s featured preliminary bout and airs on Bellator.com and the Bellator Mobile App.

Bellator 155 takes place at the CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho, on May 20 and is headlined by a middleweight championship clash between Rafael Carvalho and Melvin Manhoef.

A former Strikeforce titlist,the 35-year-old Coenen has gone 2-0 under the Bellator banner, besting Annalisa Bucci and Arlene Blencowe in her first two promotional appearances. “Rumina” owns notable victories over the likes of Liz Carmouche, Sarah Kaufman and Roxanne Modafferi over the course of her professional career.

Budd, meanwhile, has won six straight fights since losing to Ronda Rousey via first-round armbar at Strikeforce Challengers 20 in November 2011. The former Invicta FC talent’s current streak includes unanimous decision triumphs against Roberta Paim Rovel, Gabrielle Holloway and Charmaine Tweet in the Bellator cage.