Quietly, Bellator MMA’s second flyweight champion is finally ready to defend her new title.
Perhaps the pomp and circumstance will follow if Velasquez can turn in a few more performances as dominant as the one she used to relieve “The Ilimanator” of the belt last December. Kielholtz is an intriguing first challenger, a decorated kickboxing crossover who stumbled out of the gate but has regrouped to string together four straight wins. Along the way, her strength, athleticism — and likely some very hard work — have allowed her ground game to improve by leaps and bounds, to the point that she now boasts more wins by submission than any other method. This week will provide the first test of Velasquez’s title reign — and of flyweight’s staying power as a marquee attraction for Bellator.
Ben Duffy/Sherdog.com illustration