Julia Budd retains featheweight title in Bellator 189 main event

Julia Budd says she’s motivated by people doubting her against Cris Cyborg at Bellator 238

Julia Budd knows people are underestimating her in the main event of Bellator 238.

Budd, who is entering this fight against Cris Cyborg as the champion, is a massive underdog and one many consider the B-side of the fight. Yet, for the Canadian, she says she’s using that as motivation.

“Huge motivation,” Julia Budd said to MMA Junkie. “Everything has been [a] motivation in this camp. I just used it for fuel. Whether it’s people believing in me, people doubting me, whatever it is. It’s fuel, fuel, fuel, and I can’t wait to go out and give the performance of my life on Saturday.”

Although Cyborg did lose in 2018 to Amanda Nunes, Julia Budd is still expecting the best version of her on Saturday. She understands how difficult this task will be.

Budd also knows how much better and hungrier fighters get after a loss so is not underestimating Cyborg at all.

“I prepared for the very best Cris Cyborg,” Budd said. “Yeah, she might have lost. I know how hungry I might have been after a loss, and wanting to get out there and show the world that I wasn’t going to stay down, that I could get better from that. So, I just want to prepare myself for the very best Cris Cyborg. That’s it.

“I’m not Amanda Nunes, I’m Julia Budd. I’m going to get there.”

Julia Budd is entering this fight riding an 11-fight winning streak and having defended the featherweight title three times. She’s the inaugural champ and has been a perfect 7-0 in Bellator with her last loss coming back in 2011 in Strikeforce to Ronda Rousey. Her other loss? None other to Amanda Nunes in her second pro fight.

The Canadian knows she has the skillset to defeat Cris Cyborg. But, she knows this very well could be her toughest fight to date.

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Cole Shelton
Cole Shelton covers MMA for BJPenn.com, MMANews, and MyMMANews.com while also being the lead MMA odds writer for Sports Betting Dime