First it was Strikeforce. Invicta FC and UFC followed. Now, Cris Cyborg is the Bellator champion.
Cyborg became the first fighter to win titles in all four promotions Saturday night, finishing Julia Budd in the main event of Bellator 238. The event aired live on DAZN from The Forum in Los Angeles.
4 belts in 4 organizations! #Bellator238 @criscyborg pic.twitter.com/xvSu94ed9m
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) January 26, 2020
The finish came in the fourth round just as the action was heating up.
Cyborg landed with power shots, finishing Budd on the ground to improve to 22-2 in her career. The win was the second straight for the 34-year-old since a 2018 loss to Amanda Nunes.
? Ouch! Round 3️⃣is winding down!
Watch @JuliaBudd vs. @CrisCyborg LIVE on @DAZN_USA now!
? https://t.co/gI5OvpCoYi#Bellator238 pic.twitter.com/XWGd4CiphQ— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) January 26, 2020
For Budd, her 11-fight win streak was snapped with the defeat. She had not been defeated since a 2011 setback to Ronda Rousey while both were competing for Strikeforce.
Congrats to @criscyborg for making history… again. ? Such an energy to have to stand across from.. and congrats to @JuliaBudd for putting up such a tough fight. That was a ?main event. Hope they run it back cause @BellatorMMA just got a whole lot more interesting. ☄️ #respect
— Gina Carano (@ginacarano) January 26, 2020
Caldwell Advances In Bellator GP
In the co-main event, former Bellator featherweight champion Darrion Caldwell advanced in the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix. Caldwell finished Adam Borics in the first round with a rear-naked choke.
If this doesn’t get you hyped for @TheWolfMMA vs. @AJMcKee101, I don’t know what will. pic.twitter.com/SnI4vLqbwo
— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) January 26, 2020
Juan Achuleta topped Henry Corrales in a featherweight feature attraction, while former UFC fighter Sergio Pettis won his promotional debut over Alfred Khashakyan via submission.
Raymond Daniels stopped Jason King and Emilee King submitted Ava Knight to complete the main card.
On the prelims, Aaron Pico picked up a second round knockout when he flattened Daniel Carey 15 seconds into the round.
Other winners on the prelim card included Joshua Jones, AJ Agazarm, Jay Jay Wilson, Curtis Millender, Anthony Taylor and Miguel Jacob.
Heart stoppin’ elbow droppin’.
?? ⚡️ https://t.co/idfZJ1OOaL— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) January 26, 2020
Bellator 238: Budd Vs. Cyborg Results
Cris Cyborg def. Julia Budd via TKO (strikes) at 1:14 of Round 4 to become the Bellator female featherweight champion
Darrion Caldwell def. Adam Borics via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:20 of Round 1 to advance in the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix
Juan Archuleta def. Henry Corrales via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Sergio Pettis def. Alfred Khashakyan via technical submission (guillotine choke) at 3:00 of Round 1
Raymond Daniels def. Jason King via TKO (strikes) at 3:07 of Round 1
Emilee King def. Ava Knight via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:18 of Round 1
Joshua Jones def. Brandon Bender via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 29-27)
Aaron Pico def. Daniel Carey via KO (strike) at :15 of Round 2
AJ Agazarm def. Adel Altamimi via submission (triangle choke) at 1:22 of Round 3
Jay Jay Wilson def. Mario Navarro via submission (armbar) at 2:48 of Round 2
Curtis Millender def. Moses Murrietta via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Anthony Taylor def. Chris Avila via majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Miguel Jacobs def. David Pacheco via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-27)