Tara Graff signs three fight deal with Bellator, which begins with Valerie Loureda.
The “Tiny Terror” Tara Graff is ready to make waves in her new promotion. Starting with a debut fight against a fan favorite, the undefeated Valerie Loureda.
Graff (1-1) welcomes the challenge. Loureda had previously found herself in a war of words with the UFC’s Macy Chaisson on Twitter. Loureda has a huge following on Twitter and Instagram, and Graff, although not one for trash talking, has some opinions on her opponent’s social media use.
“It’s trashy” Graff told Cageside Press recently. “I’m not one to put people down but I’m sorry, it drives me nuts. I have kids, I don’t want them to think that that is how you make yourself big or how you define yourself,” Graff explained. “I feel like you are degrading yourself, I don’t like it at all.”
Graff and Loureda were set to face off back in January at Bellator 238. The fight was cancelled a week prior to the event due to an undisclosed injury to Loureda. Graff doesn’t believe there is bad blood between the two, but is excited for the chance to finally fight the 22-year old.
“I saw a podcast where she said it was from a weight issue. I was never given an official reason” Graff explained. “It was on the Cyborg card, I was pumped up, so to have that dropped, it hurt. I’m happy though, this has been brewing, more fuel to the fire.”
This is “Tiny Terror’s” first fight since a loss in November of 2018 under King of the Cage, a promotion in California. Since 2018 Graff has had two fights cancelled, one being Loureda in 2020. A freak injury is to blame for the nearly two year layoff, but ring rust won’t be a worry for Graff.
“I’ve had the itch for so long” Graff laughed. “Crazy fluke injury happens, Septic Bursitis. It took time to get back into shape. I’ve been looking hard for a while. Bellator came to me in January. Once that fight was off, they scheduled it for June which COVID shut down. I’m finally so ready to be back, the new Tiny Terror.”
As for fight night, Graff isn’t worried on the lack of crowd or the pressure of return. She feels this one will feel like a hard sparring session in the gym, and she expects to have her hand raised come August 7, derailing the hype of Loureda.
“This will end with my hand raised, that’s all I’ll say” Graff told Cageside Press.
Watch the full interview with Tara Graff above. Graff is set to face off with Valerie Loureda at Bellator 243 in Mohegan Sun Arena on August 7. Check back for more coverage from the event in the coming days!
