Cris Cyborg finished Julia Budd via fourth-round TKO to become the new Bellator women's featherweight champion in the Bellator 238 main event Saturday night.
Cyborg is now the first fighter to win titles in the UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce, and Invicta FC. It was her Bellator debut following a three-year stint with the UFC, the promotion in which she held the featherweight belt for about a year and a half.
Cyborg blitzed her opponent early in the fourth with a barrage of strikes, and Budd couldn't escape the onslaught. The new titleholder landed a massive kick to her opponent's body to seal the deal. The stoppage came 1:14 into the frame.
Budd had her moments early in the contest, but Cyborg took over in the second round. She dominated the Canadian, whether on the feet or the ground.
As usual, Cyborg was the more aggressive fighter, excelling at positional control. Though she's slightly smaller than Budd, the Brazilian managed to hold her opponent in the clinch and attack with short punches.
Cyborg, who won her second straight fight, stayed more active than Budd and nearly finished the bout at the end of the third round when she was in top mount.
Budd had been the Bellator women's 145-pound champion since March 2017. She defended the title three times.
