THACKERVILLE, Okla. – Julia Budd continues to feel right at home in Oklahoma and again asserted herself as one of the world’s top featherweights with her third straight title defense.
Budd (13-2 MMA, 7-0 BMMA) had little trouble taking out Olga Rubin (6-1 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) to hand Rubin her first loss. Budd’s TKO came at the 2:14 mark of the opening round.
Then the champion called out Leslie Smith, who won in her return to Bellator earlier in the night, and asked for a fight in Japan for Rizin against Gabi Garcia, who is 100 pounds heavier than her.
The women’s featherweight title fight was the Bellator 224 main event at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Okla. The main card aired on Paramount and streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.
Budd kicked up top 40 seconds in, but had it partially blocked. Rubin tried to fire a left down the middle, but Budd kicked again. Another left high kick glanced off Rubin’s head, and Budd followed it with a kick to the body. A right kick up top was partially blocked, and Budd came behind that with a couple punches and one more kick.
Two minutes into the fight, Budd landed a front kick to the body and Rubin went down. Budd wasted no time pouncing on her, and she got the TKO finish.
For complete coverage of Bellator 224, check out the MMA Results.
