Budd defends title vs. Nogueira, Dantas meets McDonald at Bellator 202

Julia Budd's sophomore Bellator featherweight title defense will take place at the site of her first.

The 145-pound champ will put her crown on the line against Talita Nogueira in the main event of Bellator 202 on July 13 in Thackerville, Okla., a promotional official confirmed to theScore on Monday after MMAjunkie's Mike Bohn first reported the matchup. Bellator also confirmed that two-time bantamweight titleholder Eduardo Dantas will meet UFC import Michael McDonald in the co-headliner.

Budd and Nogueira were slated to lock horns three years ago at Bellator 133, but the latter pulled out due to a knee injury. The 34-year-old Budd has since won five straight under the outfit's banner, most recently defending the title she won at Marloes Coenen's expense last March with a split decision over Arlene Blencowe in December at Bellator 189.

Nogueira, 32, makes her second walk to the Bellator cage after promptly submitting Amanda Bell in her return from a near-four-year layoff last August. Each of the undefeated Brazilian's seven pro victories has come within the distance.

Dantas gets back in the saddle after his second reign ended in a unanimous decision loss to Darrion Caldwell in October at Bellator 184. The Nova Uniao man had won four straight and defended the crown once prior to the defeat, and meets McDonald with a Bellator slate of 10-2.

McDonald signed with the Scott Coker-led outfit early last year after obtaining his release from the UFC and took a unanimous verdict over Peter Ligier in his December promotional debut at Bellator 191. The 27-year-old broke his hand in the fight - his first after a 17-month layoff - but had it repaired before the year was out. He's alternated wins and losses over his past six and owns a pro record of 18-4.