Marloes Coenen (photo via GLORY)

By FCF Staff

Bellator hasn’t announced the signing of Gina Carano, but as rumoured would be the case, it has created a women’s featherweight division. In addition, the promotion has announced its newly created division will feature established vets Marloes Coenen and Julia Budd.

No information regarding the debuts of Coenen and Budd was disclosed; however, they are expected to compete later this year.

“We’re incredibly excited to bring in two of the best athletes competing in our sport today,” Bellator President Scott Coker said in a press release from the promotion. “We are making a commitment to bring back the female division to Bellator, and feature some of the world’s best in the Bellator cage.”

Coenen (21-6) joins Bellator having gone 3-2 in her last five fights, and the only women to defeat the Dutch fighter during that stretch are Cris “Cyborg” and Miesha Tate.

“After fighting professionally for over 15 years, I am honored to be invited into the Bellator cage,” Coenen said. “Fighting for Bellator brings my spirit back for fighting! It is great to be working together with Scott Coker again as we both have the same vision on fighting. My style is fighting with the objective to knock my opponent out or to submit her. That is exactly what I am planning to do the very first second I step into the Bellator cage.”

Budd (6-2) makes her way to Bellator riding a four fight win streak, which took place under the Invicta FC banner.

“I’m ecstatic about the opportunity that Bellator is giving the 145 female division and I’m especially excited to be one of the first females to fight for Scott Coker under the Bellator banner,” Budd said. “This gives me the opportunity to showcase my skills as one of the best fighters in the world on one of the biggest stages in the world.”

The creation of a women’s featherweight division is a compelling move by Bellator, considering the UFC only promotes bantamweight and strawweight fights.