Unexpectedly stuck in U.S. after Bellator 262 win, Arlene Blencowe sets sights back on title

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Arlene Blencowe didn’t find out until the middle of Bellator 262 fight week that her stay in the U.S. would be lasting a lot longer. It’s a good thing she has a victory to build off of.

In her first fight since a loss to women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, Blencowe rebounded Friday night with a third-round TKO of Dayana Silva at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Blencowe, a native of Australia, said she will be forced into an extended stay in the U.S. after the government back home tightened its COVID-19 restrictions. Blencowe (14-8 MMA, 7-4 BMMA) plans on spending a week in New York before returning to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she’s found a home in Jackson Wink MMA.

It’s not the easiest of situations for Blencowe, who hasn’t seen her kids in nine weeks. But she’ll make the most of it as she plans on making a return to another title shot.

“The restrictions at the moment aren’t allowing us back in for at least the next six weeks,” Blencowe told reporters after her win. “I’ll always make a good situation out of a bad one, and Albuquerque’s won me over. I know all the coaches and training partners, I’m part of the family, and they get to keep me.”

You can watch Blencowe’s full post-fight interview in the video above where she talks about the pressure she put on herself to win, the satisfaction of getting a finish, how she’s become “the complete package now” thanks to her work at Jackson Wink, and much more.