Aspen
Ladd will shift from
Professional Fighters League to Bellator
MMA for a showdown against Katerina
Shakalova on May 17.
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The promotion announced the featherweight pairing on Tuesday. Ladd
vs. Shakalov will be part of the
Bellator Champions Series Paris card, which takes place at
Accor Arena and is headlined by a lightweight championship clash
between Usman Nurmagomeodv and Alexandr
Shabliy.
A seven-time UFC veteran, Ladd took part in the PFL’s featherweight
season in 2023. The 29-year-old Californian last competed at the
organization’s championship event, where she dropped a unanimous
decision to Kayla
Harrison in a 150-pound catchweight bout. The PFL does not have
a 145-pound weight class for its 2024 season, which likely prompted
Ladd’s move to Bellator.
Shakalova made her promotional debut this past August, taking a
split verdict over Dayana
Silva at Bellator 298. The 26-year-old Ukraine native has won
eight of her nine professional outings overall.