Tag: Valerie Loureda

Valerie Loureda suffered torn arm ligaments at Bellator 259: ‘I feel like a real f*cking fighter now’

A bikini-clad Valerie Loureda sported an arm cast in a recent video but voiced enthusiasm for the experience and her return.

Even though [autotag]Valerie Loureda[/autotag] is in a cast, her anticipation of a summer 2021 return hasn’t waned.

In a recent Instagram story, Loureda (3-1 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) revealed she suffered torn ligaments in her right arm – the limb that her opponent Hannah Guy torqued multiple times last Friday at Bellator 259. Though she survived Guy’s lengthy submission attempts, Loureda lost a unanimous decision – the first defeat of her professional career.

Despite the injury and the loss, Loureda is optimistic she will recover quickly and voiced a sense of relief having gone through the adversity of a mid-fight injury. At 22, Loureda indicated the best is yet to come.

“I feel like a real f*cking fighter now,” Loureda said in the since-expired Instagram story. “Try being in that submission with your arm basically broken for like three minutes and not tapping out. I feel like a real fighter now. I fought on the ground, you know? I’m 22. This is just the beginning. I’ve had so much fun. I want to fight again like, right away – like, in two months. I just have some ligament damage, but I’m good, man.”

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Currently, Bellator has one event scheduled for July 16 at Mohegan Sun Arena. The promotion’s schedule beyond that is unknown, but company president Scott Coker has said he intends for Bellator to hold two events per month for the remainder of 2021.

Loureda was booked twice in 2019 and twice in 2020, though one of the latter fights fell through when she suffered an undisclosed injury. The loss to Guy (3-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) was Loureda’s first fight of 2021.

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‘Stop the stupid sh*t’: Video shows Valerie Loureda’s cornerman at Bellator 259 being brutally honest

Valerie Loureda’s cornerman was frustrated with her performance at Bellator 259 and laid into her in between Rounds 2 and 3.

[autotag]Valerie Loureda[/autotag] showed incredible toughness at Bellator 259. What she didn’t show was the ability to listen to her corner’s advice – and she got an earful for that.

On Friday night, Loureda lost for the first time in her young career, dropping a unanimous decision to Hannah Guy at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Loureda started the fight with an early knockdown thanks to a crisp 2-3 combo, but she struggled after that.

Loureda got herself into – but somehow also out of – two seriously precarious situations in the first two rounds. She managed to escape a deep armbar attempt in Round 1 and a mounted triangle position that almost got the referee to stop the fight in Round 2. Through those first 10 minutes, Loureda had several instances of abandoning her striking fundamentals in favor of spinning backfists and spinning wheel kicks.

The use of those flashy moves drew the ire of American Top Team coach Steve Bruno, who was brutally honest with Loureda as she sat on the stool before Round 3. His advice was captured on video during the Showtime broadcast.

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“You can’t get taken down this round, OK? You’ve got to box. You have to punch. Stop the stupid sh*t with the spinning backfists and box her. Your corner has been telling you to box her. Stop running away. The ground work is atrocious. Stay off the ground with her. Every opportunity you have to get up, get up. And if you don’t punch, you will lose. You have to throw 50 punches this round – five-zero. And it better be smart. …”

In Round 3, Loureda continued with the flashy striking, leaving herself open to takedowns, which secured her defeat.

Loureda, 22, made her Bellator debut in February 2019, coming in as a taekwondo master. She got off to a 3-0 start before Friday night’s setback.

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Bellator 259 results: Hannah Guy hands Valerie Loureda first loss in scrappy fight

Hannah Guy brought the fight to Valerie Loureda, nearly finished her twice, and came away the victor at Bellator 259.

[autotag]Hannah Guy[/autotag] threw caution to the wind against [autotag]Valerie Loureda[/autotag], and it paid off Friday night at Bellator 259.

Guy withstood some initial adversity but rebounded in a big way to hand Loureda her first defeat in a scrappy fight, as Guy earned unanimous decision with scores of 30-27, 29-28, 29-28 from the judges at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Given how the fight unfolded, it’s hard to believe Guy didn’t come away with a submission as she had Loureda in trouble on two occasions.

Guy (3-1 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) came out as the aggressor in Round 1, but she paid for it when Loureda (3-1 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) landed a 2-3 combo and dropped her with a left hook. Loureda rushed in for the finish, but when she realized she couldn’t get it, she decided to let Guy up. Loureda’s standup continued to look good as Guy marched forward, but then Guy changed levels and secured a takedown. Guy transitioned to an armbar, and had it locked in tight, but Loureda managed to escape and get back to her feet. Between Loureda’s knockout and Guy’s threatened submission, it was a close round for the judges to score.

Round 2, however, was a different story, after Guy changed levels in the early going. Loureda initially stuffed the takedown and ended on top, but Guy reversed the position and secured full mount with 3:30 remaining. Loureda was in serious danger as Guy secured an S-mount with Loureda’s arm trapped and eating punches and elbows. The referee appeared close to stopping the fight until Loureda’s toughness shined through again, and she somehow managed to escape a dire situation.

“I thought I was gonna finish with the triangle honestly,” Guy said. “She just slipped right out of there, so that was awesome of her. Her defense was really good. I was really impressed by that actually. I didn’t know what her ground game was, but it was a lot better than I thought. No offense to her.”

In Round 3, Guy wasted no time trying to get the fight to the mat by jumping for a guillotine. Loureda escaped and smartly backtracked to stand up, but she was visibly exhausted, while Guy marched forward. Loureda abandoned her basics and instead threw flashy strikes that didn’t connect and only left her in bad positions. Guy secured a takedown in the final minute and ended in dominant position to secure the round and victory.

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 259 results include:

  • Hannah Guy def. Valerie Loureda via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Saad Awad def. Nate Andrews via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 3:16
  • Grant Neal def. Tyree Fortune via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:20
  • Sumiko Inaba def. Kristina Katsikis via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 3:35
  • Aviv Gozali def. Sean Felton via submission (heel hook) – Round 1, 1:17
  • Davion Franklin def. Tyler King via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:02
  • Leah McCourt def. Janay Harding via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 2:42
  • Danny Sabatello def. Brett Johns via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Alexander Shabliy def. Alfie Davis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Bellator 259 faceoff video highlights: Cris Cyborg, Leslie Smith have one last faceoff before rematch

Check out the ceremonial weigh-in faceoffs ahead of Bellator 259 at Mohegan Sun.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Bellator makes its return Friday and the women’s featherweight title will be on the line.

Bellator 259 takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena with the main card airing on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie. Atop the bill is [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] (23-2 MMA, 2-0 BMMA), who defends her title against [autotag]Leslie Smith[/autotag] (12-8-1 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) in the main event. The fight is a rematch of the two fighters’ 2016 bout, which Cyborg won by first-round TKO.

The co-main event also features a rematch. Former Bellator bantamweight champion [autotag]Darrion Caldwell[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 12-3 BMMA) returns to the division he once sat upon the throne of. He faces [autotag]Leandro Higo[/autotag] (20-5 MMA, 3-3 BMMA), who missed weight by 1.5 pounds ahead of the bout.

Following Thursday’s official Bellator 259 weigh-ins, the athletes came face to face for some traditional pre-fight staredowns.

Check out the faceoffs below, including Cyborg vs. Smith, Caldwell vs. Higo, [autotag]Austin Vanderford[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Fabian Edwards[/autotag], [autotag]Valerie Loureda[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Hannah Guy[/autotag], and more.

Christian Edwards removed from Bellator 259; Valerie Loureda elevated to main card

With Christian Edwards’ fight off, Valerie Loureda has been bumped up.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Widely regarded as one of Bellator’s top up-and-comers, [autotag]Christian Edwards[/autotag] will have to wait a little longer to step back inside the cage.

Following the Bellator 259 weigh-ins Thursday at Mohegan Sun, in which he came in underweight, Edwards (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) did not clear pre-fight medicals. With Edwards deemed medically unfit to compete, his fight against [autotag]Ben Parrish[/autotag] (4-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) was removed from Friday’s main card.

Promotion officials announced the news in between the official and ceremonial weigh-ins.

Despite the cancellation, Bellator 259 will still have a five-fight main card. Rising sensation [autotag]Valerie Loureda[/autotag] (3-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) has been elevated from the prelims and will take on [autotag]Hannah Guy[/autotag] (2-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in a strawweight matchup.

MAIN CARD (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Champ Cris Cyborg vs. Leslie Smith – for women’s featherweight title
  • Darrion Caldwell vs. Leandro Higo
  • Fabian Edwards vs. Austin Vanderford
  • Maycon Mendonca vs. Jaleel Willis
  • Hannah Guy vs. Valerie Loureda

PRELIMINARY CARD (MMA Junkie, 5:30 p.m. ET)

  • Nate Andrews vs. Saad Awad
  • Tyree Fortune vs. Grant Neal
  • Sumiko Inaba vs. Kristina Katsikis
  • Sean Felton vs. Aviv Gozali
  • Davion Franklin vs. Tyler King
  • Janay Harding vs. Leah McCourt
  • Brett Johns vs. Danny Sabatello
  • Alfie Davis vs. Alexander Shabliy

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Valerie Loureda dedicates Bellator 259 to memory of grandfather, who died from COVID-19

Valerie Loureda opens up about the tragedy she went through ahead of Bellator 259.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Valerie Loureda[/autotag] has gone through a tough time ahead of her MMA return at Bellator 259.

The Bellator women’s flyweight prospect makes her fourth professional appearance this Friday against Hannah Guy (2-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) on the preliminary card at Mohegan Sun Arena. Loureda (3-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) has dealt with injury, as well as a personal tragedy ahead of the contest.

“When I was preparing for a fight in December, I got cut; 20 stitches through the muscle, and I had to let that heal because if not, that can open very easily, and I’m very young still,” Loureda told MMA Junkie at Wednesday’s Bellator 259 media day. “Then, Bellator signed with Showtime, and all the fights got pushed to April. Then in April, when I went to fight, I got COVID, and all my family got COVID. My grandfather passed away from COVID. He got it at the hospital, so it’s been rough. But I had to push through. I had to keep training hard, and here I am.”

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The pandemic has been rough for many people around the world, as it’s taken a big toll on many lives and the families that have lost loved ones. Loureda admits it was not easy to deal with the loss of her grandfather while preparing for Bellator 259 but feels continuing her career would’ve been her grandfather’s wish.

“Definitely this was a hard one because I couldn’t spend time with my grandfather or touch him before he passed away,” Loureda said. “It was just very wrong, and it traumatized me. I went through a little depression after that, but I had to get out of it, and I had to keep looking at my future, my career, and what he would’ve wanted me to do. I trained hard, lost the weight, and I’m here prepared, ready to fight this girl.”

Loureda is determined to get a victory on Friday night and dedicate the win to her grandfather, as well for all the families who have faced adversity through the coronavirus pandemic.

“This fight is completely dedicated to my grandfather and all the families that lost their loved ones because of COVID,” Loureda said.

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Bellator’s Valerie Loureda: ‘People are going to be shocked’ by my wrestling when I show it

Valerie Loureda is a 4th dan taekwondo black belt, but she says there’s a lot more to her game than just striking.

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – [autotag]Valerie Loureda[/autotag] is a taekwondo black belt, but she says there’s a lot more to her MMA game than just striking.

Loureda is off to a 3-0 start to her professional career and she’s coming off her most impressive win yet, dropping Tara Graff with a blistering right hand before finishing her with ground-and-pound last August at Bellator 243.

But Loureda, already one of the most popular fighters on the Bellator roster, is in no rush to skyrocket up the rankings. The 4th dan taekwondo black belt and former member of the U.S. Olympic team wants to make sure that her ground game is up to par before she thinks about title contention.

“I just want to see how I do on the floor grappling and my scrambles and getting out and defending oppositions, and that’s when I’ll know I’ll be ready to fight for that belt,” Loureda told MMA Junkie.

She continued, “Most of the girls that I’m fighting right now are grapplers who are just coming forward, trying to take me down and submit me, and that’s the story of my life for the rest of my career. So I’m just getting used to it and having fun with it and learning how to hold my ground and just be aggressive and defend the takedowns and play my game.”

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Despite never truly being tested in the grappling department, Loureda has no doubt that the training she’s received at American Top Team has her more than ready.

“I’m an amazing wrestler,” Loureda said. “Cuban wrestling is very different, and I was lucky enough to be taught wrestling by Yoel Romero and Alexis Villa and Gustavito (Balart), a lot of Olympic wrestlers, so they really taught me that Cuban wrestling, and I’m gonna take it into the cage. I just haven’t been given a chance to show it because I’m playing my game, but the moment I get the opportunity to show it, people are gonna be shocked by my wrestling skills.”

Loureda returns to action May 21 against Hannah Guy (2-1) at Bellator 259, which takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.

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Valerie Loureda booked for next fight at Bellator 258 on May 7

Rising star Valerie Loureda is back.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – [autotag]Valerie Loureda[/autotag] has her next fight booked.

A popular flyweight up-and-comer, Loureda (3-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) will fight [autotag]Hannah Guy[/autotag] at Bellator 258 on May 7, a promotion official Thursday confirmed to MMA Junkie after an initial report by Maxim.

Loureda, 22, most recently competed Aug. 7 at Bellator 243, when she scored the second TKO victory of her professional career, a second-round stoppage of Tara Graff. After the win, Loureda took exception with Graff’s pre-fight comments that criticized her Instagram and TikTok success. In response, Loureda put on a dancing display that went viral.

“Of course it made it personal,” Loureda told reporters, including MMA Junkie, after the fight. “I just didn’t answer her. I didn’t lower myself to her. I waited for the chance I got to fight when I was healthy so I could shut her mouth.”

Prior to that result, Loureda won a unanimous decision over Larkyn Dasch and scored a first-round TKO of Colby Fletcher in her first two pro fights.

Bellator 258 takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

With the addition, the Bellator 258 lineup includes:

  • Champion Juan Archuleta vs. Sergio Pettis – for bantamweight title
  • Anthony Johnson vs. Yoel Romero – light heavyweight grand prix quarterfinal
  • James Gallagher vs. Patchy Mix
  • Josh Hill vs. Raufeon Stots
  • Weber Almeida vs. Johnny Soto
  • Johnny Eblen vs. Daniel Madrid
  • Henry Corrales vs. Keith Lee
  • Bryce Logan vs. Alan Omer
  • Hannah Guy vs. Valerie Loureda

Scott Coker excited for Valerie Loureda’s future: ‘You’re just gonna see her grow and grow’

Bellator president Scott Coker said Valerie Loureda’s dedication in the gym will take her to success inside the cage.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Scott Coker is excited about [autotag]Valerie Loureda[/autotag]’s potential as a Bellator athlete.

Loureda (3-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) signed a multi-fight contract extension with the promotion earlier this month following her highlight-reel TKO of Tara Graff at Bellator 243.

The undefeated prospect doesn’t shy away from the spotlight, but has certainly proven her worth inside the cage and, while she may have more social media followers than the average fighter, Coker says Loureda is putting the work in and has the right attitude to learn.

The 22-year-old is currently training out of American Top Team, home of some of the best fighters in the sport, and Coker said that her choice of training base, coupled with her traditional martial arts background, should stand her in good stead as she continues her career.

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Speaking to reporters, including MMA Junkie, during the post-fight press conference at Bellator 244, Coker said, “She’s a traditional martial artist. The father teaches taekwondo, her sister trains, and I think she’s got some kicking skills and she got some punching skills and what I really liked is that she is in the gym and she’s training. She’s learning the game of mixed martial arts and not just sticking to her traditional style.”

He continued, “I think the world enjoyed her TikTok dance, right? It was a great thing and she had a lot of engagement in that and we’ll take it. It’s great for us too, but at the end of the day, you have to put your time in and you have to learn to be a complete mixed martial arts fighter, which she’s doing.

“I think you’re just gonna see her grow and grow because she’s athletic, she’s in shape, she comes to fight, she’s got that little mean, little thing that you gotta have. That little spirit to fight to really be in the cage, being a warrior so she’s got that grit about her. She can do this, she just has to keep training and get better.”

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Unbeaten Bellator prospect Valerie Loureda signs multi-fight contract extension

Fresh off a highlight-reel win, Valerie Loureda has a new Bellator deal.

Bellator has revealed its intention to build [autotag]Valerie Loureda[/autotag] as a homegrown talent.

The promotion on Thursday announced it has signed undefeated women’s flyweight prospect Loureda (3-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) to a multi-fight contract extension that spans several years.

Financial details of the 22-year-old’s new deal were not revealed, but Loureda expressed excitement in continuing to call Bellator her fighting home for the foreseeable future.

“I am pleased to have re-signed with Bellator,” Loureda said in a statement. “As I have always said, I am here to show the world the true martial artist that I am and chase the flyweight belt. I was born for this, I am a natural born fighter.”

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Loureda, who comes from a taekwondo background and trains out of American Top Team in South Florida, is fresh off her first fight in 14 months. She started 2-0 in MMA, then took a hiatus to film a reality show, but returned with a force at Bellator 243 last weekend when she scored a highlight-reel TKO of Tara Graff.

Bellator has not announced when or against whom Loureda will compete next.

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