Before entering the cage at Bellator 243, flyweight Tara Graff called out her opponent, Valerie Loureda, for being a bad representative for the sport, and accused Loureda of using her body to raise her platform on social media by posting provocative photos and videos.
On Friday night in Uncasville, Connecticut, Loureda dropped Graff at the very end of the second round, forcing the referee to wave off the fight at the bell, and then made a point to dance for the cameras in celebration – sending a clear message back to Graff.
She hit the buzzer-beater KO and then the celebration began for @valerielouredaa 💥💃
(via @BellatorMMA) pic.twitter.com/XoJEnTs2g4
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 8, 2020
Loureda said after the fight that she believes she’s an inspiration to women who want to get into MMA.
Via MMA Junkie:
“I can’t be professional with that girl when you’re telling me I’m being demoralizing to the sport. You know what, look at all the girls who look like me, who dance, who wan’t to defend themselves, who are now going to be in MMA because I’m an inspiration and they’re not scared. That’s what I stand for, not what she said.”
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