Bellator 238 pre-event facts: Cris Cyborg looks to end Julia Budd’s dominant reign

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Bellator 238 pre-event facts: Cris Cyborg looks to end Julia Budd’s dominant reign

The first Bellator event of the year goes down Saturday with Bellator 238, which takes place at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., with a main card that streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

In the main event, the only women’s featherweight champion in Bellator history, Julia Budd (13-2 MMA, 7-0 BMMA), will attempt to continue her reign atop the division when she takes on her biggest test yet in former UFC champion Cris Cyborg (21-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), who gets a title shot in her promotional debut.

The card also includes a matchup in the ongoing Bellator featherweight grand prix, as well as some other often-seen notables. For more on the numbers behind the card, check below for 30 pre-event facts about Bellator 238.

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Main event

Julia Budd

Budd’s only career losses came against current UFC bantamweight and featherweight champion Amanda Nunes and ex-titleholder Ronda Rousey.

Budd competes in her eighth Bellator featherweight bout, the second-most appearances in divisional history behind Arlene Blencowe (nine).

Budd enters the event on an 11-fight wining streak. She hasn’t suffered a defeat since November 2011.

Budd’s three consecutive Bellator title defenses are tied with Patricio Freire for second most among current champions behind Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (four).

Budd’s seven-fight Bellator winning streak is tied for the third-longest active streak in the company behind A.J. McKee (16) and Macfarlane (10).

Budd’s seven-fight Bellator winning streak in women’s featherweight competition is the longest active streak in the division.

Budd’s seven-fight Bellator winning streak is the second longest active streak among female fighters in the promotion behind Macfarlane (10).

Budd’s seven victories in Bellator women’s featherweight competition are most in divisional history.

Budd’s three stoppage victories in Bellator women’s featherweight competition are tied with Blencowe and Amanda Bell for most in divisional history.

Cris Cyborg

Cyborg can become the first in history to win titles in Bellator, UFC, Invicta FC and Strikeforce.

Cyborg can become the second in history to win titles in Bellator and UFC. Eddie Alvarez also accomplished the feat in the men’s lightweight division.

Cyborg makes her Bellator debut following a seven-fight UFC stint where she went 6-1 and held the promotion’s women’s featherweight title.

Cyborg’s four victories in UFC women’s featherweight competition are most in divisional history.

Cyborg outlanded her seven UFC opponents 460-148 in significant strikes.

Cyborg has earned 17 of her 21 career victories by knockout. She’s finished 10 of those wins in Round 1.

Co-main event

Darrion Caldwell

Darrion Caldwell (14-3 MMA, 11-2 BMMA) is 5-0 in Bellator featherweight competition. He’s 7-0 in the weight class during his career.

Caldwell’s five-fight Bellator winning streak in featherweight competition is tied for the second-longest active streak in the division behind McKee (16).

Caldwell has earned five submission victories in Bellator competition. The company record is seven, which is currently held by Goiti Yamauchi.

Adam Borics

Adam Borics’ (14-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) five-fight Bellator winning streak in featherweight competition is tied for the second-longest active streak in the division behind McKee (16).

Borics’ five-fight stoppage streak in Bellator competition is the longest among active fighters in the company.

Borics’ five stoppage victories in Bellator featherweight competition are tied for third most in divisional history behind McKee (11) and Patricio Freire (10).

Remaining main card

Juan Archuleta

Juan Archuleta (23-2 MMA, 5-1 BMMA) was a three-division champion under the King of the Cage banner, holding titles at lightweight, featherweight and bantamweight.

Sergio Pettis (18-5 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) makes his Bellator debut following a 14-fight UFC stint where he went 9-5.

Pettis earned all nine of his UFC victories by decision.

Pettis is the only fighter in UFC history to earn his first nine wins with the promotion by decision.

Raymond Daniels (1-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), 39, is the oldest of the 12 scheduled main-card fighters.

Daniels was successful in his return to MMA competition after nearly 11 years when he won at Bellator Europe 1 in May.

Ava King (3-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) is on a three-fight winning streak after starting her career 0-4.

Preliminary card

Aaron Pico

Aaron Pico (4-3 MMA, 4-3 BMMA) is 4-2 since he dropped to the featherweight division in September 2017.

Pico has suffered all three of his career losses by stoppage.

Bellator 238 pre-event facts: Cris Cyborg looks to end Julia Budd's dominant reign