Valerie Loureda on ATT work ahead of Bellator 271

Valerie Loureda clashes with Taylor Turner on Friday, November 12th at Bellator 271. This flyweight fight emanates from Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, and broadcasts on Showtime.

Master looks to rebound from her first pro defeat to Hannah Guy via unanimous decision at Bellator 259. She aims to do so against Turner who has a dozen pro bouts underneath her.

The Taekwondo specialist has so far accrued a 3-1 professional mixed martial arts record. All four of Loureda’s pro bouts have taken place under the bright lights of Bellator MMA.

Valerie Loureda began her pro career with a pair of striking-based finishes bookending her first three wins with the in-between victory coming via unanimous decision. She made her Bellator debut, and by proxy her pro-MMA debut, at Bellator 216 in February 2019.

Turner has previously fought for Bellator and went 1-1 in that pair of prizefights; besting Heather Hardy via first-round ground and pound at Bellator 222.

I spoke with Loureda at the pre-fight virtual media day. The excerpt from our interaction is below.

Valerie Loureda

The main sparring partners at American Top Team getting in work with Loureda ahead of this fight

“I have Isis (Verbeek). She’s incredible. Explosive, fast striker. I have Evelyn (Martins) who is coming out. She’s very young but is so talented. Actually fighting in December and she currently fought for Titan (FC). She’s really pushed me, she’s tall like my opponent, and she’s a 135er. Been heavy on me but those rounds have helped me a lot. And Amanda Nunes has been in camp with me because she’s fighting in December as well. But she’s been watching me and giving me so much advice along with Ariane Lipski. So I’m really blessed to have the best training partners at American Top Team and learn from the champions.”

What do you see transpiring when Valerie Loureda versus Taylor Turner goes down at Bellator 271 on Friday?

Dylan Bowker

I've been enamored with combat sports for as long as I can remember. I've hosted MMA talk shows Lights Out and Pure Fight Radio with featured guests like Jens Pulver, Roy Nelson, Miesha Tate, Mark Coleman, and more. I've been an MMA broadcaster for XFFC as well as BTC and have done play by play commentary on live pay per view on GFL as well as FITE TV. I've provided written, audio, and video content covering some of the biggest MMA promotions like Rumble in the Cage, Unified MMA, and King of the Cage. I've worked as a sports entertainment personality for over five years and given play-by-play or featured promotions of KSW, ONE Championship, TKO, and Invicta FC. My work can be found in the USA Today Sports affiliate MMA Torch, Cageside Press, MMA Sucka, and Liberty Multimedia.

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