Women's MMA returns to Bellator with the signings of Marloes Coenen and Julia Budd

Bellator MMA sign Women's Featherweights Marloes Coenen and Julia Budd

by Andreas Georgiou - @AGeorgiouMMA

It looks like Women's MMA is set to make a return to Bellator, as they establish a new Featherweight division with huge signings of Marloes Coenen and Julia Budd.

Coenen and Budd are scheduled to square off later this year inside the Bellator cage.

Bellator President Scott Coker has been credited of the WMMA boom during his days in-charge of Strikeforce, with top talent such as Gina Carano, Cris Cyborg and Ronda Rousey.

“We’re incredibly excited to bring in two of the best athletes competing in our sport today,” Bellator President Scott Coker said. “We are making a commitment to bring back the female division to Bellator, and feature some of the world’s best in the Bellator cage.”

Number two ranked Featherweight Coenen, the former Strikeforce Bantamweight Champion and Remix World Cup Champion, holds a professional recorded of 21-6 with 15 wins coming by submission. 12 of those finishes came in the very first round of her fights. Coenen has stated she is ready to return to the cage and put on some explosive performances for the fans.

"After fighting professionally for over 15 years, I am honored to be invited into the Bellator cage,” Coenen said. “Fighting for Bellator brings my spirit back for fighting! It is great to be working together with Scott Coker again as we both have the same vision on fighting.

My style is fighting with the objective to knock my opponent out or to submit her. That is exactly what I am planning to do the very first second I step into the Bellator cage.”

Ranked one place below her opponent, Budd (6-2) joins Bellator riding a four-fight win streak. The Strikeforce and Invicta veteran is known for her strong Muay Thai background.

“I’m ecstatic about the opportunity that Bellator is giving the 145 female division and I’m especially excited to be one of the first females to fight for Scott Coker under the Bellator banner,” Budd said. “This gives me the opportunity to showcase my skills as one of the best fighters in the world on one of the biggest stages in the world.”

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