Juliana
Velasquez’s next flyweight title defense will likely take place
in the spring, according to Bellator president Scott Coker.
Velasquez is targeted to face former UFC 135- and 125-pound title
challenger Liz
Carmouche at an as yet to be announced Bellator MMA event. The
exact date is tentative, but Coker told
MMAjunkie.com in a recent interview that the if all goes as
planned, Velasquez vs. Carmouche will happen by April.
“I believe that fight will happen in April,” Coker said. “I think
that’s when we were told Velasquez would be ready to go so. As soon
as she’s ready, we’ll get her back in there, but I think April is
the date.
“All of our champions, the launch of the tournament, the finals of
our light heavyweight tournament, the [Michael
Page] fight, Juliana
Velasquez, Cyborg – all these fights will happen let’s say
between January and April. It’s kind of what we’re shooting
for.”
Velasquez claimed 125-pound gold with a five-round verdict over
Ilima-Lei
Macfarlane in December 2020 and made her first defense this
past July, as she took a split decision against Denise
Kielholtz at Bellator 262. The 35-year-old Brazilian is 12-0 as
a professional and 7-0 in Bellator MMA.
Carmouche exited the UFC on the heels of a five-round defeat in a
flyweight title bout against Valentina
Shevchenko in August 2019. Since then, “Girl-Rilla” has rattled
off three straight triumphs in Bellator, the most recent of which
came via 35-second TKO against Kana
Watanabe in June.