Top-ranked featherweight contender Julia “The Jewel” Budd looks to once again earn her spot in a Bellator title fight with a victory on October 21st at Bellator 162: “Shlemenko vs Grove” in Memphis, Tennessee. Budd is set to battle Arlene “Angerfist” Blencowe in 145-pound action on the card.

Bellator officials announced the matchup today. Budd has twice been set to compete for the Bellator Women’s Featherweight Championship, which has yet to be formally established, but injuries derailed plans for both bouts. She brings a six-fight winning streak into next month’s bout with Blencowe.

Budd (8-2-0) was also on the cusp of a title shot on multiple occasions during her time with Invicta FC, which saw her rack up three straight stoppage wins and a decision victory over future title challenger Charmaine “Not So Sweet” Tweet. However, when last-minute fight changes kept Budd out of reach of a championship, she opted to move on to Bellator and has since posted three-round Unanimous Decision wins over Gabrielle “Gabanator” Holloway and Roberta “Crusher” Paim Rovel. Now recovered from an untimely knee injury, Budd returns to action in hopes of continuing her winning streak.

Blencowe (7-5-0) got off to a rocky 2-4 start early in her pro MMA career, but she rebounded with three victories including a key win over future Invicta FC title challenger Faith “The Immortal” Van Duin in an August 2014 rematch. The stoppage victory got the attention of Bellator matchmakers, who signed the Australian standout soon after. Blencowe earned a first-round TKO triumph in her promotional debut at Bellator 137, but succumbed to a second-round armbar from MMA pioneer Marloes “Rumina” Coenen three months later. She bounced back with a close win over Holloway in November.

Bellator 162: “Shlemenko vs Grove” is set to take place on October 21st at FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee. The event is headlined by a middleweight bout between Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko and Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove.

(Photo Credit: Bellator)