After her successful Bellator debut back at Dynamite 1 in September, kickboxer Keri Melendez’s pressure to perform has gone up just a tick leading into her second fight.

Defeating debuting kickboxer Hadley Griffith was the first step onto the big stage for Melendez. Now she will try to continue her success by taking on another debuting kickboxer in Sarah Howell.

Sarah Howell was quite effective in amateur MMA and kickboxing, but she is now taking on a known name on one of the largest stages in MMA.

Along with the Keri Melendez vs. Sarah Howell bout, there will be five more recorded female bouts on a Bellator: Dynamite 2 card that combines the talent of MMA and Kickboxing.

Keri Melendez caught up with Cage Pages to discuss the transition from kickboxing to MMA, and when exactly she plans on making her Bellator MMA debut.

“This whole year I’ve been trying to stay ready. Ever since my last fight I’ve been doing a lot of grappling and staying ready just in case I got the call for my MMA debut. It just so happens that this was a good opportunity for me to be on the this Bellator Dynamite card. Before the end of the year I plan on making my MMA debut.”

Bellator has become one of the larger promotions to co-promote MMA fights and kickboxing matches on the same event. With Melendez already off to a quick start in kickboxing, and potentially looking forward to mixed martial arts, she could become that rare athlete that would be able to bounce back-and-forth if she decides to do so.

It seems like Melendez is willing to weigh her options as she approaches Friday night.

“I want to do some trial and error and learn as I go along. This opportunity came up with a big show for me to be on with Rampage (Quinton Jackson) being the main event with Joe Schilling being on there as well. I’m just excited to take part in this card under the Bellator banner, and once I make my MMA debut then I’ll take the next step after that and figure out everything else.”

Fighters like Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Joe Schilling, Kevin Ross, Matt Mitrione, Raymond Daniels, Hisaki Kato, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, and Denise Kielholtz will headline this jam-packed card. The stars will really shine bright at the Scotttrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Melendez recognizes the talent, but one day wants to rise above these athletes’ level and be in a league of her own among the females in Bellator.

“This is awesome. I’ve seen Kevin Ross fight a lot and I’ve seen Joe Schilling, he’s close to the team and a part of the team. My husband (Gilbert Melendez) trained with Kevin Ross last week. I’m excited for the ladies, and I want to represent, and be considered, as one of the top athletes. I’ve trained very hard and have come prepared, I just feel blessed.”

Be sure to catch Keri Melendez’s next bout at Bellator Kickboxing: St. Louis tonight at 11 p.m. EST on Spike TV.