The ‘Warhorse’ will have a chance to prove her toughness against one of the best in the game as Kristina Williams steps up to face Valerie Letourneau at Bellator 201 in June.
Valerie Letourneau has had a change of opponent for next month’s Bellator 201. Originally scheduled to face Bruna Ellen at the event in Temecula, California, the Canadian flyweight will now be facing Kristina Williams. The card is headlined by a women’s flyweight title fight between Ilima-Lei MacFarlane and Alejandra Lara.
Who’s watching @BellatorMMA tonight on @paramountnet!? 👀 The cat is out of the bag! I’m honored to have the first fight of my new contract against a very tough & experienced opponent. Don’t miss it on June 29th in California! #WarhorseArmy rise up 👊🐴 #TeamTKO #Bellator201 pic.twitter.com/ZFPUTi5mF7
— Kristina Williams (@WarhorseMMA) May 26, 2018
A Bellator official confirmed to Cageside Press that Bruna Ellen was forced off the card due to injury. The nature of the ailment was not disclosed. In her place, Williams (2-0) will join the card having won the first two fights of her professional career. Both came under the Bellator MMA banner. She shocked many with an upset of Heather Hardy in her premier at Bellator 185. Williams followed that up with a split decision win over Emily Ducote at Bellator 195 earlier this year.
With such a quick start, she’s poised to become a big part of Bellator’s flyweight division — but against Letourneau, she’ll be facing a former UFC title challenger, and serious step up in competition.
Competing at strawweight, Valerie Letourneau (9-6) tore through her first three opponents in the UFC, earning herself a title shot against then-champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk. However, she lost that bout at UFC 193, then dropped her next two fights in the promotion. After parting ways with the UFC she signed up with Bellator, defeating Kate Jackson at Bellator 191 late last year. Many had her tabbed as the next title challenger, but Bellator elected to give Lara the nod.
Bellator 201 takes place June 29 at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California.
