Bellator 262: Velasquez vs. Kielholtz was a

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...

event produced by

Bellator MMA Bellator MMA (formerly Bellator Fighting Championships) was an American mixed martial arts promotion (entertainment), promotion founded in 2008 by Bjorn Rebney and operated until 2025. The promotion takes its name from ''wikt:bellator, bellātor ...

that took place on July 16, 2021 at

Mohegan Sun Arena The Mohegan Sun Arena is a 10,000 seat multi-purpose arena in the Uncasville, Connecticut, Uncasville area of Montville, Connecticut, Montville, Connecticut located inside the Mohegan Sun casino resort. The arena facility features of configurab ...

Uncasville, Connecticut Uncasville is a village in the town of Montville, Connecticut, United States. It is located in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River where it flows into the Thames River. The name is now applied more generally to all of the ...

Background

Undefeated Juliana Velasquez made her first title defense of the Bellator MMA Women's Flyweight World Championship against top-tier kickboxer

Denise Kielholtz Denise Kielholtz (born 30 March 1989) is a Dutch female Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial artist, based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. She has competed professionally since 2004 and is the current Bellator Kickboxing Women's Flyweight Champion. ...

. The Brazil native has won all six of her fights in Bellator, including three by finish. Velasquez, 34, has a background in judo. Ranked #4 Kielholtz (6-2) is the Bellator Kickboxing Women's Flyweight Championship and has won four straight in MMA. She is 6-1 under the Bellator MMA banner. Two heavyweight bouts were announced for the main card: the #5 ranked Tyrell Fortune faced the #7 ranked

Matt Mitrione Matt Mitrione (born July 15, 1978) is an American retired mixed martial artist and former American football player, who competed for both the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and most recently for Bellator MMA. Prior to embarking on an MMA c ...

, while the #4 ranked Linton Vassell was expected to meet the promotional newcomer Marcelo Golm. On July 12, the bout between Vassell and Golm was scratched after Vassell suffered an injury. Former Bellator Women's Featherweight title challenger

Arlene Blencowe Arlene Blencowe (born 11 April 1983) is an Australian mixed martial artist and boxer, currently competing in the Women's Featherweight division of Bellator MMA, where she is the first Australian female fighter in the promotion's history. Bo ...

fought

Dayana Silva Dayana Silva (born August 17, 1990) is a Brazilian female mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist who competes in the Featherweight (MMA), Featherweight division. A professional MMA fighter since 2009, she has formerly competed in Bellator MMA. ...

on the main card. Travis Davis faced the undefeated

Johnny Eblen Johnny Eblen (born December 13, 1991) is an American professional mixed martial artist who last fought in Bellator MMA, where he was the last Middleweight World Champion. Background Eblen, born to a Korean mother and American father, was a sta ...

in a middleweight bout, which served as the main card opener. A heavyweight bout between

Ronny Markes Ronny Markes (born April 21, 1988) is a Brazilian mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist currently competing in the Heavyweight (MMA), Heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2007, Markes has formerly competed for the Ultimate Fig ...

and Said Sowma took place on the preliminary portion of the event. A welterweight bout between the undefeated Roman Faraldo and promotional newcomer John Ramirez was announced for the event prelims. However, Faraldo had to pull out off the bout after his wife went into labor.

Results

References

{{2021 in mixed martial arts Bellator MMA events Events in Uncasville, Connecticut 2021 in mixed martial arts July 2021 sports events in the United States 2021 in sports in Connecticut Mixed martial arts in Connecticut Sports competitions in Connecticut

Background

Results

See also

References