Bellator MMA will crown the inaugural women’s featherweight champion this weekend as Marloes Coenen takes on Julia Budd at the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma.
Coenen (23-7) will enter the Bellator cage on Friday evening looking to rebound from a shock 1st round submission loss to Alexis Dufresne at Bellator 155 last May.
Before that defeat, the 35-year old had earned back to back submission wins under the Bellator banner over Annalisa Bucci as well as Arlene Blencowe and another win for “Rumina” would cap off a fairytale month for the Netherlands after Germaine de Randamie ascended to the top of the UFC’s women’s 145lbs division at UFC 208.
Her opponent Budd (9-2) will be looking to extend a 7-fight, 4 and half year unbeaten run when she makes her bid to claim the inaugural women’s featherweight belt.
During this impressive run “The Jewel” has beaten a who’s, who of her weight class including the likes of Danielle West, Charmaine Tweet and most recently Arlene Blencowe at Bellator 162 to set up the title fight with Coenen.
Bellator 174 also features a welterweight bout between Brandon Girtz and Fernando Gonzalez as well as a middleweight contest that sees Chris Honeycutt taking on former TUF winner Kendall Grove.
Bellator 174 Marloes Coenen vs. Julia Budd Results
Main Card
Inaugural Bellator Female Featherweight Championship: Marloes Coenen vs. Julia Budd
Welterweight: Brandon Girtz vs. Fernando Gonzalez
Middleweight: Chris Honeycutt vs. Kendall Grove
Bantamweight: Steve Garcia vs. Joe Taimanglo
Preliminary Card
Lightweight: Cody Pfister vs. Jonathan Gary
Welterweight: Jason Witt vs. Justin Patterson
Featherweight: Emmanuel Rivera vs. Treston Thomison
Middleweight: Rafael Lovato, Jr. vs. Wayman Carter
Heavyweight: Justin Wren vs. Roman Pizzolato
Female Featherweight: Alexis Dufresne vs. Gabrielle Holloway
Female Flyweight: Emily Ducote vs. Katy Collins
