While there have been many different types of setbacks in this wild year of 2020, MMA for the most part has continued forth. Whether it be the UFC and their neverending schedule, or Bellator’s shuffling of the deck and improvements to the roster. Well, for the latter promotion, they’ve kept at it in the final months of the year.
To close out 2019 and head into the new year, Bellator had accumulated plenty of momentum by collaborating with Japanese MMA powerhouse, RIZIN FF. As a result of the partnership, fans were treated to bouts featuring several fighters crossing over between brands. At the end of it all, supremacy was battled for via two big late December events.
In one of the two women’s bouts featuring Bellator vs. RIZIN, we saw the highly touted unbeaten 9-0-1 prospect Kana Watanabe represent Japan’s finest. The black belt Judoka’s Bellator debut was a successful one as she scored a third-round TKO over Brazil’s Ilara Joanne.
Fast forward to almost a year later and Watanabe is now officially making the transition over to the Bellator roster. MyMMANews confirmed via sources, as well as Watanabe herself, that she has signed a four-fight contract with the promotion.
Having received the offer in mid-November, the 32-year old was already hoping to challenge herself against more international competition going forward. Now she’s very exciting to know that it’s not a matter of if, but when.
“It definitely helps that I’ve fought at their event once,” Watanabe shared. “Because Bellator uses their circular cage instead of the ones with corners. So it definitely will make it easier for me for my next fight because I already fought in the circle cage and I know what it feels like. And the operation, the whole fight week experience is different. So it’s nice to know I’ve done it once before.”
Continued: Kana Watanabe officially signs with Bellator: 'My goal is to go after that belt'
