Julia Budd will make her Bellator debut next Friday night when she meets Gabrielle Holloway in a featherweight bout at Bellator 133 from the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.
Budd (6-2) was initially scheduled to meet Talita Nogueira on the card, but an injury forced Nogueira off the card and Bellator turned to Holloway, who is the number nine ranked women’s featherweight.
Bellator 133 will mark the first fight for Budd since defeating Charmaine Tweet at Invicta FC 7 and by that time she walks into the cage, it will have been 434 days since her last fight. While some people believe in cage rust, Budd is not one of those people.
“I always have nerves and I always got excitement walking out,” Budd told The MMA Report. “I really do not think it will be cage rust because I have been training all year. I have got better and I worked on all of my weaknesses. So I feel like it has been a nice little break and now I am so excited to get in there and fight. Can not come soon enough.”
At this time, Bellator officials have not said if a victory by Budd could secure a potential title fight in Bellator. Currently, Bellator has not announced plans for a women’s featherweight title fight but Budd has her eyes set on becoming a Bellator.
“My immediate goal is winning on Friday night,” she said. “Then from there, fighting for a world championship. That has always been my goal since I started this sport. That is what my eyes are on. I just know that I can never look past the opponent in front of me. After that, I hope to have a world title shot.”
It would seem logical that a win by Budd, who is considered one of the top women featherweight fighters in the world would set up a title fight with Marloes Coenen. Budd agreed with that statement, but she has to get a win next Friday night against Holloway before any of that can happen.
To hear the complete interview with Budd, be sure to check out The MMA Report Live on Friday at 11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT.