Former Bellator featherweight champion Julia Budd and recent featherweight title challenger Pedro Carvalho will be back in the Bellator cage next week.
MMA Fighting confirmed with officials Tuesday that Budd (14-3) will fight Dayana Silva (9-5), while Carvalho (11-4) fights the unbeaten Jay Jay Wilson (7-0) on the preliminary portion of Bellator 257 on April 16 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
It was initially reported that Budd would be facing Silva this Friday, but the bout has been pushed back a week. Carvalho’s bout has also been altered as he was originally scheduled to fight Daniel Weichel. It is not yet known why Carvalho’s matchup has been changed.
MMA Junkie was first to report the updates.
Budd seeks her second straight win since dropping the featherweight belt to Cris Cyborg in January of last year. She rebounded with a decision win over Jessy Miele at Bellator 244 to score her 12th win in 13 fights.
This will be Silva’s Bellator debut. The Brazilian failed to earn a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series back in 2018, but has gone 2-1 since competing for Shooto Brazil.
Carvalho looks to bounce back from his first loss in three years. As part of the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix, Carvalho defeated Sam Sicilia in the first round before falling to champion Patricio Freire in the quarterfinals. Prior to that loss, he was 4-0 inside the Bellator cage.
Wilson made his pro debut at Bellator 201 in June 2018. He has competed six times for the promotion since then and finished four of those opponents in the first round. In his most recent fight at Bellator 257, Wilson needed just 20 seconds to KO Sergio de Bari.