Former Bellator Champion Julia Budd Signs With PFL, To Make Debut Later This Month

Former Bellator Featherweight Champion Julia Budd has made the move to the PFL and plans to compete in their 2022 season format. News of Budd’s signing was unveiled by the promotion at a press conference Wednesday.

Budd is expected to make her PFL debut at the promotion’s grand finale 2021 event on October 27th at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, USA.

Budd is booked to meet Kaitlin Young up at lightweight – the sole women’s division that the promotion hosts at the moment.

It is not known whether Budd will fight at lightweight or her usual featherweight when fighting in the 2022 regular season. A report from Marc Raimondi of ESPN says the promotion is undecided on whether they will open a 145-pound weight class.

Budd was Bellator’s 145-pound champ for over two years. She first earned the belt in late 2017, defeating Arlene Blencowe via split decision after a five-round battle. She went on to defend the belt twice before dropping it to former UFC champ Cris Cyborg in 2020.

Budd has picked up two wins since dropping her belt, having defeated Jessy Miele and Dayana Silva over the past year.

Young will be making her first appearance since competing in the 2021 PFL regular season. The veteran won and lost a fight in the year, finishing the season with three points.

PFL’s October 27th show is a busy one, as it includes all of their championship grand final bouts. Here is the updated lineup:

Bout 9: Loik Radhzabov (15-3-1) vs. Raush Manfio (14-3) (PFL Lightweight Championship)

Bout 8: Magomed Magomedkerimov (29-5) vs. Ray Cooper (23-7-1) (PFL Welterweight Championship)

Bout 7: Bruno Cappelozza (13-5) vs. Ante Delija (19-4) (PFL Heavyweight Championship)

Bout 6: Kayla Harrison (11-0) vs. Taylor Guardado (3-1) (PFL Lightweight Championship)

Bout 5: Antonio Carlos Junior (12-5) vs. Marthin Hamlet (8-2) (PFL Light Heavyweight Championship)

Bout 4: Movlid Khaybulaev (18-0-1) vs. Chris Wade (20-6) (PFL Featherweight Championship)

Bout 3: Claressa Shields (1-0) vs. Abigail Montes (2-0) (Lightweight)

Bout 2: Don Madge (9-3-1) vs. Nathan Williams (13-7) (Lightweight)

Bout 1: Julia Budd (15-3) vs. Kaitlin Young (12-11-1) (Lightweight)