‘She thinks I am a weak Instagram mannequin, however I rework within the cage’: Bellator MMA siren Loureda fires warning forward of comeback

Bellator MMA flyweight Valerie Loureda has mentioned any rivals who see her penchant for posting bikini footage on social media as an indication of weak spot are in for a impolite awakening as she prepares to make her cage comeback.

Loureda, 22, steps again into the Bellator cage this Friday on the Mohegan Solar Enviornment in Connecticut, the place she is going to intention to enhance on her unbeaten begin within the skilled ranks towards Tara ‘The Tiny Terror’ Graff.

It is going to be Cuban-American fighter Loureda’s first battle since June of final yr, when she claimed a unanimous resolution win towards Larkyn Dasch to enhance her document to an unblemished 2-Zero with the promotion.

A prolonged hiatus from the cage adopted that battle, with a profession detour to seem on actuality TV present ‘Exathlon’ final yr after which harm issues inflicting setbacks initially of 2020, earlier than Bellator was pressured to shutter occasions for the Covid-19 pandemic.

However the promotion – and Loureda – is now again, and the taekwondo standout often known as ‘Grasp’ mentioned she might be prepared come Friday night time towards the 1-1 Graff, regardless of truncated preparation time.

“I didn’t find out about this battle till three weeks in the past and I didn’t have many coaching companions to do sparring and my jiu-jitsu,” Loureda advised MMA Junkie’s Spanish-language podcast.  

“However I’m assured as a result of I’ve been doing this since I used to be a toddler, so I’ve that muscle reminiscence. These previous couple of weeks, I’ve been doing one of the best I can to be able to win and are available out on prime.

“I’ve used time to focus on what I need to do with my life. Whereas many are consuming and gaining weight at residence, I’ve been working to be on weight and be prepared for this battle.

“So I haven’t had many companions for this coaching camp, however I’m very assured in my stage and the years of coaching in martial arts.”

Additionally on rt.com

The Miami-based American Prime Staff prospect counts the likes of former UFC strawweight ruler Joanna Jedrzejczyk as amongst her coaching companions, and can be a buddy of males’s sensation Jorge Masvidal, who like Loureda has Cuban roots.

Loureda mentioned she hoped to blaze the identical form of path for the neighborhood as Masvidal has, additionally paying tribute to his help. 

“I’m very assured I will be the subsequent face to come back out of Miami, the subsequent feminine fighter. I don’t know any feminine fighter that’s Cuban, and I’m very assured I may very well be the subsequent one…

Additionally on rt.com

“I’ve the identical coaches as Jorge, the identical coaching, and I’m following his steps within the sport.

“He’s guiding me so much. I’m very assured in my camp, in my workforce, my metropolis behind me, and I’m going to win this battle for the Cubans right here in Miami.”

Regardless of nonetheless being at a comparatively early stage in her MMA profession, Loureda is a well-established presence on social media, the place she has fast-approaching 250,000 followers on Instagram.

It might not be stretching actuality to say that Loureda has caught the attention of a lot of these followers attributable to her regular stream of bikini footage and fondness for dancing to the digital camera.

That has led some feminine rivals resembling UFC bantamweight Macy Chiasson to accuse her of “promoting intercourse not MMA,” however Loureda mentioned anybody – together with upcoming opponent Graff – who thinks her social media output signifies weak spot or distraction from her preventing targets is gravely mistaken. 

Additionally on rt.com

“She sees me on Instagram and he or she thinks I solely put up footage, however she doesn’t know I practice twice, thrice a day, and like an animal. That’s my secret weapon. She thinks I’m weak – I’m simply an Instagram mannequin. However once I step within the cage, I rework,” she advised MMA Junkie. 

And after having to showcase her life outdoors the cage throughout such a protracted hiatus, Loureda will lastly have the prospect once more to show what she is made from in preventing phrases at Bellator 243 this weekend.