Julia Budd

Julia Budd (born July 4, 1983) is a Canadian mixed martial artist and kickboxer competing in the featherweight division. She was the first Bellator Women's Featherweight World Champion and has also fought in Strikeforce, Invicta Fighting Championships, and Professional Fighters League (PFL).

Martial arts training

Budd practiced Muay Thai for many years and later became the only woman to defeat American Gina Carano in Muay Thai competition. Her second and final loss in the ring came by Germaine de Randamie, after which Budd made the move to MMA. Her Muay Thai record is 10–2. She began training in MMA at the end of 2008 and avenged her loss to de Randamie when she defeated her via unanimous decision in a 2011 MMA bout. Budd trains at the Gibson Kickboxing & Pankration Academy.

Mixed martial arts career Budd made her MMA debut on at Strikeforce Challengers 11, defeating Shana Nelson via TKO in the second round.

In her second fight for the promotion, Budd was knocked out in 14 seconds by Amanda Nunes at Strikeforce Challengers 13 on .

On , Budd faced Germaine de Randamie in a rematch under MMA rules at Strikeforce Challengers 16. She defeated de Randamie via unanimous decision.

Budd's final fight for Strikeforce came on when she was submitted by Ronda Rousey at Strikeforce Challengers 20.

Invicta Fighting Championships In 2012, Budd signed with Invicta Fighting Championships and faced Swedish fighter Elina Nilsson at Invicta FC 2: Baszler vs. McMann on . She defeated Nilsson via TKO in the first round.

Budd returned to Invicta FC on at Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama. She was originally scheduled to face Elaina Maxwell, but Maxwell sustained a concussion in training and Budd instead faced Danielle West. She defeated West via TKO in the first round.

Budd was scheduled to face Ediane Gomes at Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson on . However, on , it was announced that Invicta FC had signed Cristiane Santos to face Gomes on the card and Budd was to face Australian Fiona Muxlow. On , Invicta FC announced that Gomes was injured and that Muxlow would now face Santos. Budd remained on the card and instead faced Mollie Estes. She won the fight via submission in the third round.

Budd was again scheduled to face Ediane Gomes at Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborg on . However, she suffered a neck injury and withdrew from the fight on .

On , Budd faced Charmaine Tweet at Invicta FC 7. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Bellator MMA In August 2014, Budd signed with Bellator.

Budd was expected to make her promotional debut at Bellator 133 on February 13, 2015, versus Talita Nogueira. However, Nogueira pulled out of the fight due to a knee injury, so Budd instead faced Gabrielle Holloway. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Budd was set to face former Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion Marloes Coenen for the inaugural Bellator Woman's Featherweight Championship at Bellator 155, however Budd got injured and was replaced by Alexis Dufresne in a non-title fight bout.

Budd faced Arlene Blencowe at Bellator 162 on October 21, 2016. She won the fight by majority decision.

Budd faced Marloes Coenen for Bellator Inaugural Women's Featherweight World Championship at Bellator 174 on March 3, 2017. She stopped the veteran Coenen in the fourth round via strikes after securing the full mount position.

In her first title defense, Budd faced Arlene Blencowe in a rematch on December 1, 2017, at Bellator 189. She won the fight by split decision.

In her second title defense, Budd faced Talita Nogueira on July 13, 2018, at Bellator 202. She won the fight and successfully defended her title via TKO in the third round.

In April 2019, news surfaced that Budd had signed a new, four-fight contract with Bellator.

On the first bout of the new deal, Budd faced Olga Rubin on July 12, 2019, at Bellator 224. She won the bout in the first round, dropping Rubin with a body kick and then ground and pounding her to a TKO victory.

In her fourth title defense, Budd faced Cris Cyborg on January 25, 2020, at Bellator 238 in Inglewood, California. She lost the fight via technical knockout in round four.

Budd faced Jessy Miele on August 21, 2020, at Bellator 234. She won the bout via unanimous decision.

Budd was initially expected to face Shooto Brazil champion Dayana Silva at Bellator 256 on April 9, 2021. However, the fight was rescheduled and eventually took place on April 16, 2021, at Bellator 257. Budd won the bout via split decision and became a free agent after fighting out her contract.

Professional Fighters League On September 29, 2021, news surfaced that Budd had signed with Professional Fighters League and made her debut against Kaitlin Young on October 27, 2021, at PFL 10. She won the bout in decisive fashion via unanimous decision.

2022 season Budd faced Genah Fabian on May 6, 2022, at PFL 3. At weigh-ins, Fabian missed weight for her bout, weighing in at 160.8 pounds, 4.8 pounds over the lightweight non-title fight limit. She was fined 20 percent of her purse, ineligible to win playoff points, given a walkover loss, and was penalized one point in the standings. Budd received a walkover win regardless of bout outcome but was eligible to gain stoppage points. She lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Budd was scheduled to face Kayla Harrison on July 1, 2022, at PFL 6. However, a week before the event, Budd pulled out due to injury.

Budd faced Aspen Ladd on November 25, 2022, at PFL 10. She lost the bout via split decision.

2023 season Budd started the 2023 season against Larissa Pacheco on April 7, 2023, at PFL 2. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Budd faced Martina Jindrová on June 16, 2023, at PFL 5. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

Budd was scheduled to face Kayla Harrison at PFL 10 on November 24, 2023. However, Budd was removed from the fight that she "refused to fulfill her contractual obligation" and was replaced by Aspen Ladd at a catchweight of 150 pounds. She was subsequently released from the promotion.

Global Fight League Budd was scheduled to face former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm in the inaugural Global Fight League event on May 24, 2025 at GFL 1. However, the first two GFL events were postponed indefinitely.

Personal life Budd is married to former MMA fighter Lance Gibson and step-mother of current UFC lightweight fighter Lance Gibson Jr.

Championships and accomplishments Bellator MMA Bellator Women's Featherweight World Championship (one time; first; former) Three successful title defenses Most victories in Bellator Women's Featherweight division history (9)

Mixed martial arts record Win

Martina Jindrová Decision (unanimous) PFL 5 (2023)

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Loss

Larissa Pacheco Decision (unanimous) PFL 2 (2023)

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Aspen Ladd Decision (split) PFL 10 (2022)

New York City, New York, United States Loss

Genah Fabian Decision (unanimous) PFL 3 (2022)

Arlington, Texas, United States Win

Kaitlin Young Decision (unanimous) PFL 10 (2021)

Hollywood, Florida, United States Win

Dayana Silva Decision (split) Bellator 257

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Jessy Miele Decision (unanimous) Bellator 244

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Loss

Cris Cyborg TKO (punches) Bellator 238

Inglewood, California, United States Win

Olga Rubin TKO (body kick and punches) Bellator 224

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Win

Talita Nogueira TKO (punches) Bellator 202

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Win

Arlene Blencowe Decision (split) Bellator 189

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Win

Marloes Coenen TKO (punches) Bellator 174

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Win

Arlene Blencowe Decision (majority) Bellator 162

Memphis, Tennessee, United States Win

Roberta Rovel Decision (unanimous) Bellator 146

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Win

Gabrielle Holloway Decision (unanimous) Bellator 133

Fresno, California, United States Win

Charmaine Tweet Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC: Honchak vs. Smith

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Mollie Estes Submission (rear-naked choke) Invicta FC: Penne vs. Waterson

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Danielle West TKO (elbows and punches) Invicta FC: Penne vs. Sugiyama

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Win

Elina Nilsson TKO (punches and elbows) Invicta FC: Baszler vs. McMann

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Loss

Ronda Rousey Submission (armbar) Strikeforce Challengers: Britt vs. Sayers

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Germaine de Randamie Decision (unanimous) Strikeforce Challengers: Fodor vs. Terry

Kent, Washington, United States Loss

Amanda Nunes KO (punches) Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Saffiedine

Nashville, Tennessee, United States Win

Shana Nelson TKO (punches) Strikeforce Challengers: Bowling vs. Voelker

Fresno, California, United States Kickboxing record