Sinead Kavanagh was somewhat taken aback that Bellator women’s featherweight champion Julia Budd mentioned her as the next name who should be fighting for the title.

In combat sports, contenders typically make the push to get the title fights while the titleholders simply sit back and take on whomever is put in front of them. Given the thin nature of the 145-pound class in Bellator, though, things operate a little differently.

Following her successful title defense against Talita Nogueira (7-1 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) at Bellator 202 on Friday, Budd (12-2 MMA, 6-0 BMMA) said she thinks Kavanagh (5-2 MMA, 2-2 BMMA), who is a teammate of former UFC champ Conor McGregor at SBG Ireland in Dublin, is the top candidate to fight for the belt.

It was a comment not expected by Kavanagh, but she responded and made it clear she’s up for the task (via <a href="

Made my year when world champion calls out a Ballyfermot Head 💪🏼😂

Bellator 202 took place at WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla. Budd’s third-round TKO victory over Nogueira headlined the Paramount-televised card following prelims streamed on MMAjunkie (watch the highlights above).

Although Kavanagh, who is coming off a 34-second TKO win over Maria Casanova at Bellator 187 in November, is apparently the frontrunner on Budd’s mind to challenge for the belt next, it doesn’t mean the Canadian titleholder sees the Irish contender as a real threat.

Budd, 35, is currently riding a 10-fight winning streak dating back to November 2011. She said she respects all her opponents, but she feels she has already beaten her most credible challengers and doesn’t see Kavanagh as the one to take her strap.

“I don’t think anyone would be a potential threat, but I think there’s some good challenges out there,” Budd said. “I feel like (Kavanagh’s) kind of established herself in Bellator. Some of the other girls, they’re not fighting.”

For complete coverage of Bellator 202, check out the MMA Events section of the site.