WBC Boxing Champ Ava Knight Returns at Bellator 238 to Face Emilee Gettys

January 25, 2020. I’m stepping back in the octagon. @bellatormma Can’t Wait! #bellator pic.twitter.com/4OJEY3bEEu

— AVA KNiGHT (@A_V_A_Knight) January 8, 2020

On the heels of a triumphant MMA debut, former WBC boxing champ Ava Knight is returning to Bellator MMA in January.

On Thursday, MMA Junkie reported that Knight (1-0) will be squaring off against Emilee Gettys (3-4) at strawweight division at Bellator 238. The matchup was later confirmed by Knight and her coach Jay Glazer. The bout will take place on the main card, which goes down on Jan. 25 at The Forum in Inglewood, California. Headlining the card is a massive featherweight championship matchup as Julia Budd looks to defend her throne against Cristiane Justino.

Knight made her successful debut in the sport when she dispatched Shannon Goughary at Bellator 228 in September with a punch to the body. Her stoppage marked only the fifth time a women's strawweight bout had ever ended by KO in promotional history. As a boxer, "Lady of Boxing" posts a record of 19-2-5, most recently defeating Luna de Mar Torroba in November via decision in a rematch of their February 2019 bout scored a draw.

Gettys started her career by dropping her first four matches, including three by first-round tapout. Since a decision defeat to Goughary in November 2018, Gettys has rattled off three straight victories in 2019. Her last performance saw her capture a decision over Shawna Lee Ormsby, and a win over Knight would even the Tennessee native's record to .500. Gettys has neither won nor lost a bout via stoppage due to strikes in her career.