Julia Budd outpoints Arlene Blencowe at Bellator 162 (play-by-play)

Arlene Blencowe didn’t get the result she was looking for on the Bellator 162 prelims today with the Aussie featherweight dropping a majority decision to Canadian veteran Julia Budd.

Sherdog has play-by-play of the encounter.

Round 1: Budd takes some time to get warmed up and pops Blencowe with a terrific one-two through the guard. A hard inside leg kick from Blencowe connects. Blencowe continues to walk forward and throws punches, but she’s a little too far outside for them to connect. Budd is moving well on the outside, but she’s not yet using that long reach to capitalize. Blencowe gets inside with a loopy overhand right and ties her up but Budd is able to power her way through to a takedown. Budd is in half guard on top and threatening with a key lock but quickly abandons it. It’s a very close round but the powerful takedown for Budd wins it. 10-9 Budd.

Round 2: Blencowe storms out of her corner and goes with the body kick, but she just misses. Budd tosses out a sweeping left hook but she finds only air. Blencowe misses with a left hook, which allows Budd to scoop up the leg. It takes a little while but the Canadian eventually scores the takedown. Budd quickly moves to side control, but the Aussie is able to roll over and stand back up. Budd is all over her opponent and shoves her hard into the fence again. Blencowe is furiously trying to get the taller fighter off, but Budd is relentless. Another takedown for the Canuck, who takes her back, with both hooks in. Blencowe rolls over in an effort to escape, but Budd is like a boa on her back. Budd flattens her out and fishes for the rear-naked choke, but she can’t sink it. It’s a mauling on the ground late for Budd, who easily wins the second. 10-9 Budd.

Round 3: Budd is keeping a safe distance early, keeping the Aussie away with push kicks to the belly. Blencowe is hesitant as she tries to get inside. Budd goes with a high kick but Blencowe blocks it. At the midway point of the round, it remains a glorified kickboxing match with Budd easily keeping the smaller fighter away. Budd hasn’t attempted a takedown yet in the round. Finally, with just under two minutes remaining, the Canadian scoops Blencowe up and slams her down hard and lands in side control. Budd is threatening with an arm-triangle, but Blencowe fends it off well and rolls out of it. Blencowe explodes out and pops back up to her feet, but Budd stays on her back. Blencowe kicks Budd’s legs but Budd eventually stands up. Just before the horn, Blencowe is taken down again, icing the round for Budd. 10-9 Budd.

The official result came back as a majority decision for Budd, with the judges scoring it 29-29, 30-27 and 29-27 in her favour.

It’s back to the drawing board for 33 year-old Blencowe (7-6 MMA, 2-2 Bellator), who was coming off a split decision victory over Gabrielle Holloway late last year going into today’s clash. Budd, 33, meanwhile, wins her seventh straight fight with the result and improves her record to 9-2 in the process.

Bellator 162 took place at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee in the United States.

Results:

• Alexander Shlemenko def. Kendall Grove via TKO, Rd 2, 1:43
• Bobby Lashley def. Josh Appelt via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 2, 1:43
• Goiti Yamauchi def. Ryan Couture via Submission (Arm-Bar), Rd 1, 1:01
• Hisaki Kato def. A.J. Matthews via TKO, Rd 1, 4:58
• Julia Budd def. Arlene Blencowe (Australia) via Decision (Majority) (29-29, 30-27, 29-27)
• Ricky Rainey def. Gilbert Smith def via Decision (Unanimous) (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Steve Garcia def. Ronnie Lawrence via Decision (Unanimous) (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
• Chase Gormley def. Bobby Brents via Decision (Split) (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Virgil Zwicker def. Dan Charles via TKO, Rd 2, 4:31