By the Numbers: Julia Budd vs. Olga Rubin

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A year after successfully defending her Bellator MMA featherweight strap against Talita Nogueira, Julia Budd is back to ward off her next challenger, who this time, comes in the form of undefeated Israeli Olga Rubin. The two talented strikers are set to square off at the Winstar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma. Here is a by-the-numbers report on their upcoming encounter at Bellator 224.

Professional experience

It’s only been two and a half years since Rubin made her pro debut, and she has since racked up six victories without any defeat. Budd, on the other hand, has been in the game since 2010 and now sports a professional record of 12-2.

Bellator appearances

Rubin is just on her fifth fight at Bellator and she’s already gunning for the belt with a 4-0 promotional record. On her way to the title shot, the featherweight from Holon, Israel, knocked out Joana Filipa Magalhaes and decisioned Cindy Dandois and Iony Razafiarison. Rubin actually made her Bellator debut with a knockout of Laurita Cibirite on Nov. 10, 2016. After that, she fought for two different promotions before returning a year later and racking up three more wins. During this time, Budd was preparing for her first title defense opposite Arlene Blencowe.

Budd entered the Bellator cage on Feb. 13, 2015 and defeated Gabrielle Holloway. Like Rubin, she has yet to taste defeat in the Santa Monica, California-based promotion. After Holloway, she defeated Roberta Rovel and Arlene Blencowe. Then for the inaugural Bellator women’s featherweight championship, she faced and beat Marloes Coenen. Rubin defended the title against Blencowe in a rematch and Talita Nogueira. In all, she is 6-0 at Bellator.

Wins by knockout

Of Rubin’s six career victories, three have come via KO or TKO. She started her career with two straight TKO wins and scored her third in her return to Bellator. That accounts for a 50 percent knockout finish rate.

Budd flaunts five stoppages by KO or TKO in 12 wins. The Gibson Kickboxing & Pankration representative is notably a highly experienced kickboxer who has fought professionally, earning a record of 10-2, with four victories by knockout. In mixed martial arts, her victims are Shan Nelson, Elina Nilsson, Danielle West, Coenen and Nogueira.

Wins by submission

Between the two, it’s the more experienced Budd who has a submission victory, which is a rear-naked choke finish of Mollie Estes at Invicta FC 5. She also has one submission loss, while Rubin has none.

First-round finishes

Budd has forced two first-round stoppages in 14 professional fights. However, she’s also been stopped in round one on two occasions. Rubin also has two wins inside the first round, but she’s only fought six times inside the cage.

Career losses

As aforementioned, Rubin is undefeated and will look to notch her seventh straight victory. Budd has a pair of losses on her record, but those two notably came at the hands of former UFC bantamweight queen Ronda Rousey and current two-division UFC champion Amanda Nunes.