FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Having reached the pinnacle in Bellator, Julia Budd was ready to move on with her career.
A former Bellator women’s featherweight champion, Budd (15-3) decided it was time for a new chapter when she signed a contract with PFL. She will serve as an alternate for the 2021 PFL Championship and also has a fight booked against Kaitlin Young on Wednesday.
“It was an easy choice for me,” Budd told MMA Junkie at Monday’s media day. “The way that they’re doing the league is just something that’s exciting. It feels kind of like a new start for me, and I was a proud Bellator fighter for seven years, became a four-time world champion there, and I was ready for a change, and I’m ready to take over PFL.”
She continued, “It was pretty much after my last fight. We asked to be released early to get in as a potential alternate for the 2021 season. That was pretty much in May that our mind got switched to being a part of this league and seeing what we could do, and that Cyborg rematch wasn’t really being presented, and that would have been the make or break probably. But at the end of the day, this is where my path led me, and I’m just excited to be here and to be a part of this team.”
Budd, 38, is coming off back-to-back wins since her title loss to Cris Cyborg in January 2020 at Bellator 238. She explains that the tournament format is what appealed to her most, where she doesn’t have to worry about getting fights booked.
“The league format, knowing when you’re fighting,” Budd said. “That’s huge. I heard a lot of athletes talking about that and then that end goal. Kind of like, ‘OK, I know exactly what I got to do for step one, step two, step three. Win, win, win, gain as much points as possible, and then get that championship fight at the end. I think that clear trajectory as an athlete is very exciting.”
The 2021 PFL Championship event takes place Wednesday at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Fla. The main card airs on ESPN2/ESPN+ after prelims on ESPN+.
Julia Budd ‘ready to take over PFL,’ explains why signing was an easy decision
