Former Strikeforce, Invicta FC and UFC featherweight champ Cris Cyborg will try to add another title to her collection.
Cyborg is set to face Bellator featherweight champ Julia Budd on Jan. 25 at an event scheduled for Jan. 25 at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. The fight is currently targeted as the main event, according to a Bellator official.
News of the matchup was first reported by combat sports reporter Manouk Akopyan.
Upon signing Cyborg as a free agent, Bellator President Scott Coker targeted an immediate title shot for the dominant champ, whom he previously promoted under the now-defunct Strikeforce banner. Budd welcomed the matchup after Cyborg was released by the UFC in an acrimonious divorce.
Cyborg left the industry leader on a high note, outpointing Felicia Spencer at UFC 240 to snap back after a knockout loss to Amanda Nunes, who became a two-division champ at featherweight and bantamweight.
Budd hasn’t lost in eight years and 11 fights. She’s flourished under the Bellator banner with seven straight wins over largely unheralded talent.
Both Cyborg and Budd served time in Strikeforce. Budd’s second appearance with the promotion ended in a vicious knockout loss to Nunes.