Arlene “Angerfist” Blencowe made a strong case for another title shot as she won a unanimous decision against Leslie “Peacemaker” Smith earlier today on the Bellator 233 card in Thackerville, Oklahoma.
Smith, a former UFC fighter, was fighting Bellator for a second time and on a three-fight winning streak but during her battle against Blencowe, she struggled to close the distance to get a takedown or utilise her dirty boxing. On their feet, Blencowe, a former boxing world champion, got the better of the exchanges, in particular, landing a stiff left jab.
Since losing to the champ Julia Budd for a second time back in December 2017, Blencowe has now won three on the trot and puts herself at the top of the tree for another featherweight title shot. Budd is scheduled to face Cris Cyborg in January and Blencowe believes she should be next in line.
“I’m the number one contender. It was between me and Leslie,” Blencowe said post-fight before adding, “I’ll fight whoever they put in front of me, but I’ve won three in a row now.”
Blencowe climbs her MMA career to 13-7 (Bellator 6-3) while Leslie Smith drops to 11-8-1 (Bellator 1-1).
Earlier on the undercard, New Zealand born, Australian based Janay Harding was stopped by veteran Amanda Bell late in the third round. Harding falls to 5-4 (Bellator 2-2) while Bell progresses to 7-6 (Bellator 3-2).
Main Card:
- Aaron McKenzie def. Sean Clements via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 2, 4:31
- Lucas Brennan def. Jacob Landin via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 1, 3:38
- John Salter def. Costello van Steenis via Decision (Unanimous)
- Andrew Kapel def. Muhammad Lawal via KO/TKO (Punches), Rd 1, 1:22
- Arlene Blencowe def. Leslie Smith via Decision (Unanimous)
Tyrell Fortune def. Azunna Anyanwu via KO/TKO (Punches), Rd 2, 1:56
Preliminary Card:
- Tyree Fortune def. Chuck Campbell via Decision (Split)
- Logan Storley def. EJ Brooks via KO/TKO (Arm Injury), Rd 1, 5:00
- Julius Anglickas def. Jordan Young via Decision (Unanimous)
- Amanda Bell def. Janay Harding via KO/TKO (Ground-and-Pound), Rd 3, 4:44
- Kyle Crutchmer def. Robert Gidron via Decision (Unanimous)
- Romero Cotton def. Jason Perrotta via Submission (Verbal – Knee Injury), Rd 1, 2:16
- Christian Edwards def. Cesar Bennett via KO/TKO (Head-Kick), Rd 1, 0:16
