Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
In the main event of Bellator 238, Cris Cyborg defeated Julia Budd by fourth round stoppage to win the women’s featherweight title.
Cris Cyborg (21-2, 1NC) became the first woman to stop Julia Budd (13-3) since 2011, winning by fourth-round TKO at Bellator 238 to become the new Bellator women’s featherweight champion.
A teep kick from Budd forced Cyborg to walk forward throwing heavy punches, Budd proceeded to some good work in the clinch after backing up Cyborg against the fence. The challenger Cyborg went on to have a good first round, dropping Budd with a right hook. The Brazilian’s success continued on in the second round as Budd did have success in the clinch, but Cyborg was going all guns blazing in the striking department and landed a big knee followed by some hard punches on Budd.
Finding herself on her back again with Cyborg in her guard, Budd took some heavy punches as Cyborg postured up and started to throw down some heavy ground and pound. The round ended with Cyborg on top of Budd in full mount, continuing to reign down strikes.
At the start of the fourth round, Cyborg was still giving the same output she brought in the first. Backing up Budd against the fence with strikes, Cyborg started to go to work. Landing a shot to the body that dropped Budd, all it took was some follow up ground and pound and Cyborg handed Budd her first loss in almost nine years.
Official result: Cris Cyborg def. Julia Budd by fourth round TKO, 1:14 to become the new Bellator women’s featherweight champion