Bellator 262

Bellator 262: Velasquez vs. Kielholtz was a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator MMA that took place on July 16, 2021 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Bellator 262: Velasquez vs. Kielholtz
The poster for Bellator 262: Velasquez vs. Kielholtz
Promotion	Bellator MMA
Date	July 16, 2021 (2021-07-16)
Venue	Mohegan Sun Arena
City	Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Event chronology
Bellator 261: Johnson vs. Moldavsky Bellator 262: Velasquez vs. Kielholtz Bellator 263: Pitbull vs. McKee

Background

Undefeated Juliana Velasquez made her first title defense of the Bellator MMA Women's Flyweight World Championship against top-tier kickboxer Denise Kielholtz. The Brazil native has won all six of her fights in Bellator, including three by finish. Velasquez, 34, has a background in judo. Ranked #4 Kielholtz (6-2) is the Bellator Kickboxing Women's Flyweight Championship and has won four straight in MMA. She is 6-1 under the Bellator MMA banner.^[1][2][3][4]

Two heavyweight bouts were announced for the main card: the #5 ranked Tyrell Fortune faced the #7 ranked Matt Mitrione, while the #4 ranked Linton Vassell was expected to meet the promotional newcomer Marcelo Golm.^[5] On July 12, the bout between Vassell and Golm was scratched after Vassell suffered an injury.^[6][7]

Former Bellator Women's Featherweight title challenger Arlene Blencowe fought Dayana Silva on the main card.^[8]

Travis Davis faced the undefeated Johnny Eblen in a middleweight bout, which served as the main card opener.^[9]

A heavyweight bout between Ronny Markes and Said Sowma took place on the preliminary portion of the event.^[10]

A welterweight bout between the undefeated Roman Faraldo and promotional newcomer John Ramirez was announced for the event prelims.^[11] However, Faraldo had to pull out off the bout after his wife went into labor.^[12]

Results

Main Card (Showtime)
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Notes
Women's Flyweight	Juliana Velasquez (c)	def.	Denise Kielholtz	Decision (split) (48–47, 47–48, 48–47)	5	5:00	[a]
Heavyweight	Tyrell Fortune	def.	Matt Mitrione	TKO (submission to punches)	1	1:45
Bantamweight	Matheus Mattos	def.	Cee Jay Hamilton	TKO (punches)	2	1:33
Women's Featherweight	Arlene Blencowe	def.	Dayana Silva	TKO (punches)	3	1:00
Middleweight	Johnny Eblen	def.	Travis Davis	Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–26, 30–26)	3	5:00
Preliminary card (Youtube/Pluto TV)
Heavyweight	Said Sowma	def.	Ronny Markes	KO (punches)	1	1:09
Featherweight	Cody Law	def.	Theodore Macuka	TKO (punches)	1	1:54
Women's Flyweight	Diana Avsaragova	def.	Gabriella Gulfin	Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28)	3	5:00
Featherweight	Adil Benjilany	def.	Johnny Soto	Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)	3	5:00
Lightweight	Charlie Campbell	def.	Nicolas Giulietti	TKO (leg kicks and punches)	2	1:30

1. For the Bellator MMA Women's Flyweight World Championship.

^[13]

See also

• Martial Arts portal

• 2021 in Bellator MMA
• List of Bellator MMA events
• List of current Bellator fighters