After a stint in Bare Knuckle FC, Australian Bec Rawlings returned to MMA on the weekend, making her debut in the Bellator promotion.
Unfortunately for the 30-year-old, it proved to be an unsuccessful return as she was submitted by fellow Bellator newcomer Ilara Joanne.
Joanne pressured early and got her striking on point early before she pressured for a takedown, landing it off a trip. From the bottom, Rawlings did well to prevent her opponent from posturing up before the referee stood them up in the final minute of the round.
In the second-round Joanne again got the fight to the ground. Rawlings attempted to scramble and managed to reverse her opponent however Joanne transitioned to a knee-bar to get the tap.
The win came 3:35 into the second round to give Rawlings a fifth straight loss under MMA rules. Previously to this bout, she had won three on the trot in Bare Knuckle FC to claim the title.
✍️ @IlaraJoanne has a list & a goal and she lays it out following her debut tonight at #Bellator231. pic.twitter.com/LniZ6GN0SM
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) October 26, 2019
Channeling Arya Stark from Game of Thrones, Joanne took out a list post-fight and crossed Rawling’s name off.
“A girl has no name, but I have a list,” she told the crowd.
Valerie Letourneau and champ Ilima-Lei Macfarlane remain on the list.
The Pitbull Brothers protege moves to 9-4 in her MMA career.
Bellator 231 took place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut, USA on Saturday (AEDT).
