Juliana
Velasquez will make her second flyweight championship defense
when she faces Liz
Carmouche in the Bellator 278 main event on April 22.
Sherdog.com confirmed the booking with promotion officials
following an initial report from MMAjunkie.com.
Bellator 278 takes place at the Neil S. Blaisdell Arena in
Honolulu, Hawaii. The event is will be free to attend for military
veterans and first responders.
The 35-year-old Velasquez is undefeated in 12 professional outings.
She captured the 125-pound strap with a five-round verdict against
Ilima-Lei
Macfarlane at Bellator 254 before notching her first successful
defense in a split-decision triumph over Denise
Kielholtz at Bellator 262.
Carmouche is no stranger to title fights. In her final Octagon
appearance before signing with the California-based promotion,
“Girl-Rilla” dropped a five-round verdict to Valentina
Shevchenko in a 125-pound championship clash at UFC Fight Night
156 in August 2019. She also helped usher in the women’s era in the
organization when she fell to Ronda
Rousey in a bantamweight title tilt at UFC 157 in February
2013. She is 3-0 thus far in her Bellator tenure.