Bellator prospect Valerie Loureda has announced her next venture: professional wrestling.
Loureda, 23, recently announced that she has signed a contract with top wrestling promotion WWE. Along with this news, Loureda claims that she is no longer focused on her MMA career.
Loureda revealed her plans to wrestle during an interview on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour this week.
“I’m really excited, and I’ve dedicated my whole life to martial arts, and everything has come to this moment,” said Loureda on the show this week. “And this is my opportunity to showcase my culture and entertain the world.
Loureda made her pro debut for Bellator in 2019, scoring a first-round finish win over Colby Fletcher. She then picked up two wins before taking her first loss in 2021.
Loureda’s last MMA appearance saw her bounce back from that sole loss, defeating Taylor Turner via split decision at Bellator 271.
The flyweight talent made news earlier this year when she appeared at a WWE tryout in April. She has teased involvement with WWE since then, including a photo posted in May that showed her inside a ring at their main training complex.
Earlier this month, a report from Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful said that WWE was aiming to sign Loureda. It now looks like that news is official.
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