Keri Anne Taylor-Melendez to Make MMA Debut at Bellator 165 Next Month

It looks like Keri Anne Taylor-Melendez will follow in her husband’s footsteps after all.

Taylor-Melendez will make her mixed martial arts debut on Nov. 16 at Bellator 165 at SAP Center in San Jose and the California-based promotion is expected to make the announcement official later today. MMAJunkie was the first to report the story.

Taylor-Melendez, who has twice fought on Bellator: Dynamite cards, will take on fellow flyweight Sheila Padilla. But Taylor-Melendez, whose husband is former Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, is not expected to have a walk in the park against Padilla, who has yet to lose in the pro ranks in MMA.

Also slated for the bill will be a 155-pound showdown between unbeaten prospects Carrington Banks and Jake Roberts.

Bellator 165 will be anchored by the lightweight championship between reigning titlist Michael Chandler and former World Extreme Cagefighting and Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight king Benson Henderson. Michael Page will lock horns with Fernando Gonzalez and Francis Carmont will oppose Linton Vassell, among other bouts.

The main card will be televised live on Spike beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.