Emerging from the Shadows
Julia Budd has beaten reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s featherweight titleholder Germaine de Randamie while losing only to Ronda Rousey and Amanda Nunes. Despite her credentials and stellar 9-2 record, she has spent much of her mixed martial arts career toiling in the shadows.
Budd has not lost since she submitted to a Rousey armbar in November 2011. During her subsequent ascent in Invicta Fighting Championships and Bellator MMA, the Lance Gibson protégé has pieced together a seven-fight winning streak that includes victories over Charmaine Tweet and Arlene Blencowe.
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“I am so excited,” she told Sherdog.com. “It’s a dream come true. I’ve had to pinch myself because I’ve never had something like this offered to me before, and it’s just incredible.”
The opportunity has sharpened Budd’s perspective.
“Think of where women’s MMA was five years ago and now look at where it is today,” she said. “We are such amazing athletes, and we have so much emotion going in [to fights]. Fans are finding out that we are taking over, in a way, and our fights are always so exciting. Five years from now, there will be full UFC and Bellator cards with just women on them.”
If Budd wants to walk away with Bellator gold, she will need to rise to new heights against Coenen, a true pioneer of the sport. Submission wins against Liz Carmouche, Sarah Kaufman and Roxanne Modaferri have made Coenen one of MMA’s most feared female grapplers. While Coenen’s reputation on the mat precedes her, Budd admits the Dutch star brings plenty of other formidable weapons to the table.
“It’s one of those things that makes MMA so exciting,” Budd said. “If you focus too much on one thing, where someone is really good in one area, you’ll get caught in another area. I’ve got to be aware of everything and use my skills to make sure that I keep pushing the pace and working harder from the opening bell until the end. Yes, grappling is her strength and she’s one of the best at it, but I’m aware of everything else she does.”
Budd claims she will not go out of her way to avoid a ground battle.
“I always love testing myself in every area, and I’m comfortable taking this fight to the ground,” she said. “I’m aware of certain things where I have had everybody in camp going after my arms, going for chokes, everything. I’m just going to showcase all of my skills, either standing or on the ground.”
A Roberts Creek, British Columbia, native and accomplished muay Thai practitioner, Budd has plenty of momentum on her side and embraces the thought that many view Coenen as the favorite.
“I think that it’s easy to overlook me in a fight like this,” she said. “With Marloes, I still feel people think I’m the underdog going in and I just have to prove them wrong. I will give it all of my energy to make sure I am victorious, and then people will see me and how good I really am.”
Budd concedes she has not been as active as she would have liked during the past few years. However, she has recovered from a back injury that kept her on the shelf for much of 2016. Budd has not fought since she claimed a majority decision over the aforementioned Blencowe at Bellator 162 on Oct. 21. She envisions a finish against Coenen.
“I see it being fast-paced, and it’s not going this distance,” Budd said. “I keep seeing it over and over again in my head where my hands and my kicks are too fast for her. I’m using good footwork and being very precise and the fight ending with me finishing her.”
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