Heading into Bellator 255 this Friday, former women’s flyweight title challenger Alejandra Lara feels she has at least one advantage over Kana Watanabe. Despite the Japanese star’s formidable ground skills. “I feel that I still have that surprise factor, because a lot of people haven’t yet seen a lot of things of my game. Specifically in my ground game.”
The 26-year old from Colombia, speaking at a virtual media day on Wednesday, added that “I feel like I’m not gonna play her game, but I’m still prepared for whatever she [brings] to me.”
Lara (9-3) rocketed to stardom upon joining Bellator in 2017. Off the strength of a single win, she earned herself a title fight against then-champ Ilima-Lei Macfarlane. “Azul” came up short, however, then lost her subsequent bout, a split decision against Juliana Velasquez, who would go on to defeat Macfarlane last year.
PhotoCred: DraftKings Nation
The 2020 Bellator MMA calendar concluded with a new champion on December 10. After a four-month hiatus, the promotion is expected to return.
From July 24 onward, Bellator’s US events have taken place in Uncasville, Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Arena. Following an initial report from MMA DNA, MMA Fighting has confirmed the targeting of an April 9 event for the promotion the Mohegan Sun again to play host.
Original hopes for the Bellator 2021 schedule were to see the action begin in February. However, plans changed for undisclosed reasons.
At Bellator 254 in December the organization saw only its second flyweight champion be crowned. The reigning unbeaten queen from Hawaii, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, fell short in her long-awaited contest with Brazil’s Juliana Velasquez.