Juliana Velasquez dedicates title win at Bellator 254 to late brother

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Juliana Velasquez dedicated the biggest win of her career to her late brother.

The Brazilian fighter is the new Bellator women’s flyweight champion having dethroned Ilima-Lei Macfarlane in the main event of Thursday’s Bellator 254. Velasquez (11-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) outpointed Macfarlane (11-1 MMA, 10-1 BMMA) in a unanimous decision.

Velasquez tried to describe the feeling of not only wining a Bellator title, but also being able to dedicate the win to a lost loved one.

“Ever since I got into the organization, I dedicated all of my fights to my brother,” Velasquez told reporters at the Bellator 254 post-fight press conference. “I have a tattoo of my brother on my left arm because it’s the most powerful arm and I have a tattoo of an angel wing on my arm because I know that he’s always with me. To be able to dedicate this win to him and know that he was here with me it was indescribable feeling.”

Velasquez felt she has a meeting with destiny at Bellator 254. She knows Macfarlane was a game opponent, but she felt the title was coming back to Brazil.

“I feel great, I think that’s what I was missing in my career,” Velasquez said. “I know that just the victories are not solely important, defeats are important too. I’m at a very good phase right now and I felt the belt was for me tonight and it was waiting for me. Tonight I showed that.”

Velasquez remains unbeaten in her MMA career. The new champion would like a chance at chance at extending her record in one Bellator’s signature grand prix tournaments.

“Yeah, I would love to have a tournament and I think it would be great to have that sort of tournament format and change things up.” Velasquez said. “We would definitely get to look at different fighter depending on how the fights go in the tournament, so yeah I would definitely be interested and exited if Bellator chose to do a tournament at women’s 125 pounds.”