Julia Budd returned to action after over a year without a fight in a big way at Bellator 224, capping off a fun night in Thackerville, OK.
Bellator MMA returned to the Winstar World Casino and Resort on Friday, July 12, putting the women’s featherweight division in the spotlight. With rival UFC boasting just a handful of 145lb women, the promotion was able to place a full three featherweight scraps on the Bellator 224 card, including a title fight between Julia Budd and Olga Rubin in the main event.
That fight was over fast, as Budd worked Rubin over with body kicks before finishing her off after a barrage of punches, marking her third title defense. With luck, her next challenge won’t be so long in the making. In fact, it could come in the form of Leslie Smith, who won her Bellator debut against Sinead Kavanagh in one of the night’s other featherweight features.
Check below for a gallery of highlights from the event, plus full results!
Bellator 224: Budd vs. Rubin Results
Main Card:
Julia Budd def. Olga Rubin by TKO (strikes) at 2:14 of round one to retain world title
Rafael Carvalho def. Chidi Njokuani by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Juliana Velasquez def. Kristina Williams by TKO (punches) at 4:03 of round two
Ed Ruth def. Kiichi Kunimoto by TKO (punches) at 3:49 of round two
Preliminary Card:
Christian Edwards def. Justin Vargas by TKO (punches) at 0:54 of round one
AJ Agazarm def. Jacob Landin by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:21 of round one
Will Fleury def. Antonio Jones by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Arlene Blencowe def. Amanda Bell by KO (punches) at 0:22 of round one
Jordan Young def. Joel Bauman bysubmission (triangle choke) at 3:20 of round one
Leslie Smith def. Sinead Kavanagh by majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Mike Jackson def. Kiefer Crosbie by DQ (illegal knee)
Gabriel Varga def. Jamese Taylor by TKO (strikes) at 3:23 of round two
Nainoa Dung def. Brad Robison by unanimous decision (28-27, 28-27, 28-27
Joseph Holmes def. Kona Oliveira by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:41 of round two
Bruna Ellen def. Elina Kallionidou by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Lucas Brennan def. Thomas Lopez by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:02 of round one
