Juliana Velasquez feels she’s more recognized than prior to winning Bellator’s women’s flyweight championship — but aside from that, life hasn’t changed too much.
One thing she’s planning to change, however, is her ink. Not change, necessarily, but expand on. The tattoo on her left bicep is dedicated to her late brother, to whom she dedicated her flyweight title win against Ilima-Lei Macfarlane.
Ahead of Bellator 262, where Velasquez (11-0) makes her first title defense, against Denise Kielholtz, Velasquez told Cageside Press that she already has additions planned.
“The tattoo, the one on my arm, was a drawing of him, that he did himself. That’s why I put it here,” Velasquez explained. “Recently, I added one that’s his year of birth, and these wings, because I tell everyone that he’s my angel, and he’s going with me everywhere. My plan is to increase the tattoos, I’m going to fill my entire arm with tattoos dedicated to him, related to him.”
In Kielholtz, Velasquez is facing a challenger who is a kickboxing champion that successfully made the jump to mixed martial arts several years ago. The Brazilian would very much like to beat her at her own game, it seems.
“I’m ready to go in there and win by KO or submission, although I’d prefer to win by KO,” Velasquez told us. “She’s an exciting, explosive fighter that brings a lot to the table, but I believe I’m ready to beat her. The most important thing is to get out with a win, no matter how it is.”
With Velasquez already holding wins over Macfarlane, Alejandra Lara, Bruna Ellen, and current UFC fighter Talita Bernardo (outside Bellator), her rogue’s gallery past Kielholtz is a small one. At the top of the list, former two-time UFC title challenger Liz Carmouche, who recently dominated Japan’s Kana Watanabe.
“We couldn’t see much from that fight because it happened too fast,” said Velasquez when asked about Carmouche’s performance. “But I had already saw some openings in Watanabe’s game when I saw her fight against [Alejandra] Lara, and I knew there were places that she could be caught, and Liz did that. I don’t take much from that fight, but I’m looking forward to winning my fight now and facing [Carmouche] next.”
Watch our full interview with women’s flyweight champ Juliana Velasquez ahead of Bellator 262 above. The event takes place this Friday, July 16 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.
