One of the newest additions to the Bellator women’s flyweight division, Kana Watanabe has a date and opponent for her first fight in the promotion.
Watanabe (9-0-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), a former RIZIN standout, will face off with former Bellator women’s flyweight title challenger Alejandra Lara at Bellator 255 on April 2, a promotion official informed MMA Junkie on Monday. The matchup first was reported by ESPN.
In December, Bellator president Scott Coker revealed Watanabe’s signing in an interview with MMA Junkie. Coker praised Watanabe’s judo skills and well-rounded attack, which was on display when she defeated Ilara Joanne at Bellator 237 in December 2019. That fight was a one-off since Watanabe represented RIZIN at the cross-promotional event. She is now under an exclusive multi-fight deal with Bellator.
Lara (9-3 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) will ride back-to-back victories into Bellator 255. Following consecutive losses to Ilima-Lei Macfarlane and Juliana Velasquez, Lara defeated Taylor Turner and Veta Arteaga. Like Watanabe, Lara hasn’t competed since December 2019.
Bellator 255 takes place Friday, April 2, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card streams on Showtime.
With the addition, the Bellator 255 lineup includes:
- Champion Patricio Freire vs. Emmanuel Sanchez – for Bellator featherweight title, grand prix semifinal
- Magomed Magomedov vs. Jared Scoggins
- Tyrell Fortune vs. Matt Mitrione
- Alejandra Lara vs. Kana Watanabe
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