Bellator 262
{{short description|Bellator mixed martial arts event in 2021}}
{{Infobox MMA event
|name=Bellator 262: Velasquez vs. Kielholtz
|image=Bellator262.jpg
|image_size=
|promotion=Bellator MMA
|date={{Start date|2021|07|16}}
|venue=Mohegan Sun Arena
|city=Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
|previousevent=Bellator 261: Johnson vs. Moldavsky
|followingevent=Bellator 263: Pitbull vs. McKee
}}
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.
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.{{Cite web|date=2021-05-21|title=Juliana Velasquez set to defend title vs. Denise Kielholtz in Bellator 262 headliner|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/05/bellator-262-news-juliana-velasquez-vs-denise-kielholtz|access-date=2021-05-21|website=MMA Junkie|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2021-05-21|title=Velasquez to defend Bellator title vs. Kielholtz|url=https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/31483987/juliana-velasquez-defend-bellator-women-flyweight-title-vs-denise-kielholtz|access-date=2021-05-21|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=DNA|first=MMA|date=2021-05-21|title=BREAKING: Denise Kielholtz krijgt titelgevecht tegen Juliana Velasquez op 16 juli|url=https://mmadna.nl/breaking-denise-kielholtz-krijgt-titelgevecht-tegen-juliana-velasquez-op-16-juli/|access-date=2021-05-21|website=MMA DNA|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2021-05-21|title=UNDEFEATED BELLATOR MMA FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION JULIANA VELASQUEZ SET TO MAKE HER FIRST TITLE DEFENSE AGAINST BELLATOR KICKBOXING WORLD CHAMPION DENISE KIELHOLTZ AT BELLATOR MMA 262 ON FRIDAY, JULY 16 {{!}} MMA UK|url=http://mmauk.net/2021/05/21/undefeated-bellator-mma-flyweight-world-champion-juliana-velasquez-set-to-make-her-first-title-defense-against-bellator-kickboxing-world-champion-denise-kielholtz-at-bellator-mma-262-on-friday-july-1/|access-date=2021-05-21|language=en-GB}}
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.{{cite web |last1=Heck |first1=Mike |title=Bellator 262 adds Tyrell Fortune vs. Matt Mitrione, Linton Vassell vs. Marcelo Golm |url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/6/17/22538827/bellator-262-fight-card-tyrell-fortune-vs-matt-mitrione-linton-vassell-vs-marcelo-golm |website=mmafighting.com |access-date=23 June 2021}} On July 12, the bout between Vassell and Golm was scratched after Vassell suffered an injury.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-12|title=Bellator 262 loses Marcelo Golm vs. Linton Vassell, gains a preliminary card fight|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/07/bellator-262-marcelo-golm-vs-linton-vassell-charlie-campbell-nick-giulietti|access-date=2021-07-12|website=MMA Junkie|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Cruz|first=Guilherme|date=2021-07-13|title=Linton Vassell vs. Marcelo Golm off of Bellator 262|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2021/7/13/22575127/linton-vassell-marcelo-golm-off-bellator-262-mma|access-date=2021-07-13|website=MMA Fighting|language=en}}
Former Bellator Women's Featherweight title challenger Arlene Blencowe fought Dayana Silva on the main card.{{cite web |last1=Lance |first1=Parceria |title=Com nova luta marcada, Dayana Silva crê que está a poucos passos de disputar cinturão do Bellator |url=https://istoe.com.br/com-nova-luta-marcada-dayana-silva-cre-que-esta-a-poucos-passos-de-disputar-cinturao-do-bellator/ |website=istoe.com.br |access-date=30 June 2021}}
Travis Davis faced the undefeated Johnny Eblen in a middleweight bout, which served as the main card opener.{{cite web |last1=Lynch |first1=James |title=Travis Davis looks to spoil Johnny Eblen's undefeated record in his Bellator MMA debut |url=https://mymmanews.com/travis-davis-looks-to-spoil-johnny-eblens-undefeated-record-in-his-bellator-mma-debut/ |website=mymmanews.com |access-date=12 July 2021}}
A heavyweight bout between Ronny Markes and Said Sowma took place on the preliminary portion of the event.{{cite web |last1=Pettry |first1=Jay |title=Bellator 262 Gains Ronny Markes vs. Said Sowma at Heavyweight |url=https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Bellator-262-Gains-Ronny-Markes-vs-Said-Sowma-at-Heavyweight-179863 |website=sherdog.com |access-date=30 June 2021}}
A welterweight bout between the undefeated Roman Faraldo and promotional newcomer John Ramirez was announced for the event prelims.{{cite web |last1=Varsallone |first1=Jim |title=Roman Faraldo of American Top Team looks to continue climbing the ladder at Bellator 262 |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/fighting/article252564258.html |website=miamiherald.com |access-date=12 July 2021}} However, Faraldo had to pull out off the bout after his wife went into labor.{{Cite tweet|user=@mma_kings|number=1415360542047293440|title=Per promotion officials here at Mohegan, Roman Faraldo vs. John Ramirez is OFF of #Bellator262. Faraldo's wife is expecting a baby at any moment, so he elected to withdraw from the fight. Ramirez will be paid.}}
Results
{{MMAevent}}
{{MMAevent card|Main Card (Showtime)}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Flyweight
|Juliana Velasquez (c)
|def.
|Decision (split) (48–47, 47–48, 48–47)
|5
|5:00
|For the Bellator MMA Women's Flyweight World Championship.
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Heavyweight
|Tyrell Fortune
|def.
|TKO (submission to punches)
|1
|1:45
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Bantamweight
|Matheus Mattos
|def.
|Cee Jay Hamilton
|TKO (punches)
|2
|1:33
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Featherweight
|def.
|TKO (punches)
|3
|1:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Middleweight
|def.
|Travis Davis
|Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–26, 30–26)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent card|Preliminary card (Youtube/Pluto TV)|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Heavyweight
|Said Sowma
|def.
|KO (punches)
|1
|1:09
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Featherweight
|def.
|Theodore Macuka
|TKO (punches)
|1
|1:54
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Women's Flyweight
|def.
|Gabriella Gulfin
|Decision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Featherweight
|Adil Benjilany
|def.
|Johnny Soto
|Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
|3
|5:00
|
}}
{{MMAevent bout
|Lightweight
|Charlie Campbell
|def.
|Nicolas Giulietti
|TKO (leg kicks and punches)
|2
|1:30
|
}}
{{MMAevent end|notes=yes}}
See also
{{Portal|Martial Arts
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Bellator Tournament Events}}
{{2021 in mixed martial arts}}
Category:Events in Uncasville, Connecticut
Category:2021 in mixed martial arts
Category:July 2021 sports events in the United States
Category:2021 in sports in Connecticut