Instagram/valerieloureda
Valerie Loureda, a recent signing to Bellator MMA, is a total knockout. The 20-year-old Loureda is a Taekwondo master and currently trains at world-renowned gym American Top Team. Loureda is a former member of the U.S. Olympic taekwondo team and is a fourth-degree black belt.
Loureda is expected to make her professional mixed martial arts debut at Bellator 215 on February 15 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. She signed with Bellator in November 2018.
While Loureda has competed in just three amateur MMA bouts, she believes her experience in taekwondo and rigorous training at American Top Team gives her all of the skills it will take to end up as the best female mixed martial artist of all-time.
“I feel like I’m a true martial artist, and MMA has allowed me to portray to the world the honor, discipline and tradition that comes with being a black belt, and Bellator has given me the opportunity to influence the lives of thousands of people, especially women who are looking and are struggling to pursue their passion, so I’m really excited to just get in that cage, confront whoever they put in front of me, and with respect, win that challenge and continue going up and developing,” she told MMAjunkie.com after her signing.
“I really want to leave my legacy on this world as being the best female martial artist who has ever stepped on this planet.”
For more photos of Valerie, check out the pictures below and be sure to head on over to Instagram and click follow to join the growing list of nearly 40,000 fans who can’t wait to see her next move.