Budd vs. Cyborg Set for January 25
Cris Cyborg’s Bellator MMA debut, a title fight against women’s featherweight champion Julia Budd, now has a date, as the bout is scheduled to take place on January 25 at The Forum in Inglewood, California.
Manouk Akopyan of the Los Angeles Times was the first to report the news, and an official announcement from Bellator MMA is expected tonight at Bellator 228.
BREAKING: Cris Cyborg will make her Bellator debut on Jan. 25 at The Forum in LA. She will fight Bellator featherweight champion Julia Budd for her title.
— Manouk Akopyan (@ManoukAkopyan) September 27, 2019
Cyborg’s title shot was announced during her first Bellator public appearance at Bellator 226, days after signing a deal with the promotion, but no other details were stated.
It will be Cyborg’s first fight since her public falling out with the UFC, ending their tumultuous three-year working relationship. She became the first female fighter to win championships in three major promotions when she won the UFC women’s featherweight title at UFC 214. She made two defenses before losing the title to Amanda Nunes at UFC 232, her first loss since losing her 2005 professional debut.
She last competed in July at UFC 240, defeating Felicia Spencer.
Budd has won 11 straight fights and is unbeaten in Bellator, with her only two career loses coming to Nunes and Ronda Rousey. She became the promotion’s inaugural women’s featherweight champion by defeating Marloes Coenen at Bellator 174 and has made three successful defenses against Arlene Blencowe, Talita Nogueira and Olga Rubin.