Fujii vs Ward, Aguilar vs Frausto Set For Bellator 31The semi-finals of the Bellator Fighting Championships 115-pound women’s tournament will take place at Bellator 31 on September 30th. Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii faces Lisa Ward for the second time, while Jessica “Jag” Aguilar battles Zoila “The Warrior Princess” Frausto. The promotion confirmed both fights with MMARising.com earlier today.

Fujii and Ward first met in a 2007 bout in BodogFIGHT that saw Fujii prevail with an armbar very late in the first round. Aguilar and Frausto, meanwhile, will look to advance to the tournament final and score an upset victory.

Both women’s semi-final bouts were tentatively scheduled for Bellator 29 on September 16th, but the timetable was adjusted after Frausto suffered a foot injury in her quarterfinal bout with Jessica Pene.

Fujii (21-0-0), the odds-on favourite to win the tournament, advanced on with a second-round submission of late replacement Carla Esparza at Bellator 24. She will now be forced to contend with Ward (14-5-0) for the second time and Ward has made no secret of her desire to dethrone the pound-for-pound queen. Ward earned her spot in the semi-finals with a dominant decision victory over previously unbeaten Irish standout Aisling “Ais The Bash” Daly at Bellator 26 on August 26th. Following the fight, she departed for her honeymoon and has since resumed training. Fujii and Ward hold a combined 27 submission victories between them.

Aguilar (9-3-0 and Frausto (8-1-0) are both seen as dark horse entrants in the tournament and one will be assured a place in the finals. Aguilar showed off her impressive ground skills when she submitted Lynn “Lights Out” Alvarez at Bellator 24 and has recently been working diligently on her striking at American Top Team. Frausto defeated Pene by three-round decision in their Bellator 25 bout, but she injured her foot while throwing a leg kick. The injury was reportedly not serious and she will be ready to return on the 30th. Aguilar first spoke of the revised fight date in an interview with SportsGeeks Radio this past weekend. She aims to end Frausto’s tournament run en route to a spot in the finals.

Bellator 31 takes place on September 30th at the L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The winners of the 115-pound women’s semi-final bouts will square off in the tournament final at Bellator 34 on October 28th. That event will take place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

 

  1. I got Jag to win. Then anyones fight between Ward and fujii. Then Jag to win.

  2. im from catalonia and catalonia be with you jessica, we love you, you are the win JAG!