Strikeforce bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey currently rules the roost in the women’s 135-pound division, but the women’s flyweight category is about to be renewed with a battle between two of the top pound-for-pound female fighters on the planet.
Bellator has been making a push with several top 115-pound fighters on the women’s side of the sport. Zoila Gurgel is the promotion’s current champion, but is sitting on the sidelines recovering from a torn ACL.
It appears that while she mends, Bellator is moving forward with a No. 1 contender’s bout between Megumi Fujii and Jessica Aguilar. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney recently revealed the bout for Bellator 69 to MMARising.com.
Without an official announcement from Bellator, Aguilar could not confirm the bout, but admits she has been chomping at the bit for a fight with Fujii.
“I have been asking for this fight for a very long time,” Aguilar told MMAWeekly.com. “Bjorn has often made statements that Bellator now has both the No. 1 and No. 2 MMA unified ranked 115-pound women fighters in the world between Megumi and myself, and that Bellator will make this fight happen sooner than later.”
Aguilar has gone 8-1 over the course of her last nine fights, having lost only to Gurgel in the semifinal round of Bellator’s Season 3 Women’s 115-pound Tournament; that being a split decision loss. She’s reeled off four consecutive victories since.
The only loss of Fujii’s career was to Gurgel as well, also of the split decision variety, in the finals of the same tournament. She has won all three of her bouts following that loss, improving her career record to 25-1.
So putting these two together in the cage was all but a foregone conclusion.
Gurgel has been out since October of last year, so the winner of this bout in May would set up well in regards to the timing of Gurgel’s return, likely over the summer or early fall.
Aguilar isn’t getting ahead of herself in the race to welcome Gurgel back, however. She knows the task before her in Fujii.
“As for me fighting Fujii Megumi, this fight is huge for me in many different ways. First, I have incredible respect for her incredible career accomplishments, plus she has been an awesome ambassador for woman’s MMA, a true professional in every way,” explained Aguilar.
“From a pure personal perspective, I am totally focused on becoming the No. 1 ranked fighter in the world at my weight. I cannot control belts or titles, but my performance and the results will definitely determine not only the No. 1 world ranking, but also my ranking in all of women’s MMA from a pound-for-pound perspective.”
Although Aguilar can’t confirm the bout, rest assured, it’s going to happen, and it’s likely going to happen at Bellator 69. Regardless of when or where, Aguilar can confirm one thing… she will be ready.
“My game is 100-percent on. I am in a full training camp mode. I will be ready to best represent Bellator, women’s MMA, and prove just how much I want this to happen.”
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