While empty, Bellator’s website now has women’s atomweight as a selectable weightclass in the fighter’s section.
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In a similar dynamic to flyweight, I think in some ways Bellator will be able to make an atomweight division better than the UFC. UFC would have the better top end talent, but Bellator can groom younger fighters & fighters from other combat sports in a way UFC just can't (and probably shouldn't).
Rich Chou historically likes signing lady kickboxers, so I'm gonna post about the tiny kick people I want to see fighting a can on the Bellator prelims this year or next (I've been thinking about this first women's K-1 Grand Prix so a lot of small kickboxers are occupying my mind).
-That last Rizin confessions with RENA, specifically mentions Bellator as place she might fight (hopefully this last weight cut ordeal was an isolated incident). I'm not sure she's a bust after losing to Asakura, she's still got a mean sprawl and her grappling defense is improving rapidly. Asakura's chain wrestling is a skillset that just not many people have (even amongst good wrestlers). Keep RENA away from Zappitella/Garr/Aono and we'll be back to punching people's guts out.
-Please somebody book Hyebin Kim in an mma fight. She wrestled at university, is probably the most successful Korean Sanda lady fighter, and just won her pro boxing debut. She's like 24, and her bff Bokyeong Byeon is another tiny sanda lady who's at least 19-2 in muay thai. Sign her up to DAZN too.
-Shimeng Dai from China. Other than Elaheh Mansourian (who Hyebin Kim^ has fought multiple times), I think Dai has more credentials/medals than any other female sanda fighter. Partly because there's just more events to medal at, but she's a strong wrestler and a good kicker. I'm 90% sure she will be kickboxing or doing mma in GOH/Kunlun/WLF within a year or two. She has a clean win over Bokyeong mentioned above.
-All Star Gym's Myriame Djedidi & Josephine Lindgren Knutsson. In 2018 Knutsson won 51kg gold at IFMA against the favorite Bui Yen Ly, got robbed in Japan against KANA, fought Lommanee Chalamnoy (a 50kg fighter with a winning record against Loma Lookboonmee in muay thai), and now has a rematch booked against KANA. Djedidi has mostly fought up in weight, but moved to 48kg recently where shewon this years Euro muay thai championships, and was the only person to take a round off of Loma this year at the worlds. Both have posted #mma #plans on their social media.
-Bellator goes to Italy a few times per year, so you gotta get Jleana Valentino. She's had two competitive fights with RENA ( well before getting arm barred in the MMA fight anyway), and beat both Shootboxing (MIO) & Knockout Kickboxing's (Manazou Kobyashi) 48kg aces in the same night earlier this year. She had an mma fight booked for December before her opponent pulled out.
-Australian Alma Juniku. Fought Weili Zhang to a decision in 2017 (Juniku was 17 at the time), and this year already beat Wondergirl Jaroonsak, and then KO'd Glory fighter Zaza Sor Aree. She might grow out of being able to make 48kg, but with a fight weight at 53 kg it shouldn't be a huge cut for now.
-No idea of her name outside of Thai characters (นชนาฏ สิงห์ฉลาด), but the fighter from Lion Martial Arts/Raw Bjj who won the Neo Fight Tournament seems interesting. Also in Thailand curious about the lady who fights for Heroine FC in China (กายรุ้ง ชุ่มชื่น ...don't know her name either, it's not on the English databases).
Here's นชนาฏ สิงห์ฉลาด squashing televised pro fighter and Thai national team member Supergirl Jaroonsak.
-Christina Jurjevic, another Aussie fighter. She's got a janky kickbox record, but fights all over the place in terms of weight. Has fought RENA twice, and beat ONE's Kai Ting Chuang.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjTXSw1noJx/
Also shoutout to Candy Wu, Kwok Hoi Ling, Phetnaree (last person to beat Stamp Fairtex), Phetjeejaa, Guan Acui, Dani Fall, Gong Yanli, Amy Pirnie, Selena Flores, those Mexicans at IFMA, and Donut from Yakkao (sorry Thai names are tough).