Bare knuckle boxing champion Bec Rawlings headed to Bellator

Bare-knuckle boxing champion and UFC veteran Bec Rawlings is returning to MMA with Bellator.

MMA Fighting confirmed that Rawlings (7-8) has signed with Bellator. The news was first reported by ESPN.

“We are excited to sign Bec to Bellator and happy to see her back in MMA. I think she is going to thrive as a flyweight there,” said Rawlings manager Brian Butler.

Rawlings has not competed in MMA since UFC 223 on April 7, 2018, where she lost a unanimous decision to Ashlee Evans-Smith in a flyweight bout. The 30-year-old Australian ended her UFC run with four straight losses. However, she made her Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship debut the following June and won the National Police Gazette flyweight belt.

In three appearances for BKFC, Rawlings was unbeaten and she successfully defended her title twice. She most recently fought at BKFC 4 in Cancun, Mexico, this past February, defeating Cecilia Flores by unanimous decision.

“Bec was a great addition to BKFC, we wish her the best in competing in MMA again,” BKFC president David Feldman said.

Additional reporting by Damon Martin.