With a decisive win over Leslie Smith, the question of whether or not Arlene Blencowe deserves another title shot in Bellator has been answered.

There are few title opportunities to go around in the world of combat sports, save for pro wrestling. In boxing and MMA, for instance, a champion only fights a handful of times a year. Each fight needs to be just right to maximize exposure and fan interest. With a unanimous decision victory over a top opponent in Leslie Smith at Bellator 233, Arelene Blencowe is once again looking at a championship opportunity.

And she absolutely deserves one.

Blencowe is 6-3 in Bellator and has only lost to two women. One was against Marloes Coenen by armbar back at Bellator 141. Coenen is one of the more under-appreciated women in all of MMA history in regards to her talent. The other woman that Blencowe lost to? Julia Budd herself, the current women’s featherweight champion of Bellator.

Budd is an all-time great. She’s the inaugural champion for the women’s feather division in Bellator, she hasn’t lost in nearly nine years and her only two losses prior to that were to Amanda Nunes and Ronda Rousey. That’s it. She’s also utterly dominated every victory she’s ever had, save for one woman; Arlene Blncowe.

Blencowe with a loss would have been a viable contender option for the winner of the featherweight title fight in January regardless, but she wouldn’t have been next in line. With this victory, however, she has become the de facto number one contender for the winner of Budd and Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino.

A lot of the appeal to Blencowe as a challenger is if she can defeat Budd finally, and there’s no guarantee that Budd would be the champion when Blencowe gets her next title shot. Whoever wins, however, Blencowe is next in line.

It wouldn’t be as compelling story-wise, Blencowe and Justino would be just as exciting of a fight. Both Budd and Justino are known for their physical striking styles, and both would prove to be an exceptional match up against Blencowe no matter who wins.

Blencowe has proven in her wins that she’s able to stand and bang with any fighter, no matter how big of a name they are. Blencowe is an exceptional striker and has proven time and time again that she’s one of the best Bellator has to offer, title or no title.

Bellator 233 took place on Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, live from the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, OK. Follow along with FanSided MMA for all your live results and highlights.