But Budd, a former featherweight champion, needed a split decision to get past Brazil's Dayana Silva. The judges scored it 29-28, 28-29, 29-28 for the 37-year-old, also from Port Moody.
"I know how tough she was coming in," Budd said of the 30-year-old Silva, who started her pro career in December 2009. "No one's ever finished her and I knew she's been in the game for a long time.
"I prepared properly for her. It went the distance but I wish I got the finish there."
The main event pitted light-heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov against No. 2 contender Phil (Mr. Wonderful) Davis in the quarterfinals of Bellator's 205-pound Grand Prix.