Budd to defend 145-lb title in rematch vs. Blencowe at Bellator 189

Julia Budd's first fight as a Bellator champion is set.

The promotion's inaugural featherweight queen will defend the strap against Arlene Blencowe in a rematch on Dec. 1, in the main event of Bellator 189 at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Okla.

Bellator announced the news in a Friday release.

Budd got the better of Blencowe by majority decision at Bellator 162 before finishing fellow Strikeforce alum Marloes Coenen by fourth-round TKO for the featherweight crown at Bellator 174 this past March. The 34-year-old hasn't tasted defeat in eight fights spanning nearly six years.

After going 2-2 under the Bellator banner, Blencowe worked her way back into the fold with a pair of knockout victories in her native Australia earlier this year. She took a split decision over Sinead Kavanagh in her return to the promotion at Bellator 182.

In the middleweight co-headliner, Chris Honeycutt will vie for his fifth straight victory opposite decorated jiu-jitsu specialist Rafael Lovato Jr. - who's won all six of his professional contests inside the distance.