From MMA Junkie:
Megumi Fujii (21-0 MMA, 2-0 BFC) and Lisa Ward (14-5 MMA, 2-0 BFC) will meet at Bellator 31, and a spot in the organization’s 115-pound women’s tournament finale is on the line, officials today announced.
The semifinal fight, which is actually a rematch from the duo’s 2007 BodogFIGHT meeting, takes place Sept. 30 at the L’Auberge du Lac Casino and Resort in Lake Charles, La.
The night’s main card, including Fujii vs. Ward, airs on FOX Sports Net.
The winner of the tourney will be crowned the organization’s first-ever female champion. On Wednesday, officials announced that the other semifinal fight, Zoila Frausto vs. Jessica Aguila, also takes place at Bellator 31.
Fujii, arguably the world’s top female fighter, looks for her 22nd straight victory and third consecutive win in Bellator. After knocking out Sarah Schneider in a season-two showcase fight, the Japanese star submitted Carla Esparza in an opening-round tournament bout at Bellator 24. The 36-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo black belt now has won nine consecutive fights via stoppage (eight via submission).
She now rematches Ward, who suffered a first-round submission loss to Fujii three years ago. Since then, she’s 5-2, which includes a pair of victories in Bellator. After submitting Stephanie Frausto earlier this year, the 27-year-old entered the tournament field and scored a unanimous-decision victory over Aisling Daly in an opening-round tourney matchup at Bellator 26.
For more on Bellator 31, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
MMA’s pound-for-pound Queen and perhaps the most successful Catch Wrestling based fighter is long overdue deserved notice from the Western MMA audience. But even with a win at Bellator, will enough people see her?
