VANCOUVER – Julia Budd has no intention of rolling over for Cris Cyborg at Bellator 238.

Budd (13-2 MMA, 7-0 BMMA) has controlled Bellator’s featherweight division with an iron fist since its inception. She’s the only titleholder in the history of the company’s weight class, but later this month will face a challenge unlike any other in Cyborg (21-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), the former UFC, Invicta FC and Strikeforce champ who will make her promotional debut at the event.

No one who has come for Budd’s belt has possessed the skills and accolades of Cyborg, but the champion said she is not intimidated. Budd admitted the fight definitely has different vibe, but it’s one she’s relishing.

“It does feel different,” Budd told MMA Junkie. “It feels different because of who she is, who she’s been in the 145-pound division, which I feel like is my division and I feel like I’ve got to go out there and make a statement. It’s been extra motivation this whole camp and I’m just excited to go out there and defend my belt.”

Bellator 238 takes place at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. Budd vs. Cyborg headlines the main card, which streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Bellator president Scott Coker has touted Cyborg as the greatest female fighter of all-time ahead of Bellator 238. Given her accomplishments, she is certainly at the forefront of the conversation. The Brazilian has been in the game since 2005, though, and an argument can also be made that she’s started to show some drop off in performance.

After putting together a 20-fight unbeaten streak that lasted more than 13 years, Cyborg finally lost when she dropped the UFC title to Amanda Nunes in a stunning 51-second knockout in December 2018. She rebounded with a decision win over Felicia Spencer at UFC 240 in July, then parted ways with the promotion in free agency and joined Bellator.

Budd said she hasn’t seen any diminishment, though, and has prepared herself for a version of Cyborg that exceeds anything she’s even shown in her prime.

“I prepare for every opponent like they’re going to be the toughest opponent I’m getting into the cage with,” Budd said. “I’m preparing for the very best Cris Cyborg. I’ve watched all her fights, all the good ones, I watched the Amanda Nunes fight. I’ve watched everything her whole career because I’ve known about her my whole career. I’ve always known we’d face each other, but this is just the perfect time.”

For Budd, Bellator 238 represents the moment for which she’s waited years. Since starting her career with a 2-2 record with losses to Nunes and Ronda Rousey, the Canadian has turned a corner and has won 11 consecutive bouts, including four consecutive defenses of her Bellator belt.

It’s hard to ignore what Nunes is doing in the UFC, but given the 145-pound division has been a career-long home for her and Cyborg, Budd said she’d “like to think” the winner of her upcoming fight will be viewed as the best fighter in the world in the weight class.

All that big-picture talk is not of major concern to Budd, though – at least not now. She knows those conversations become a moot point if she doesn’t win at Bellator 238, so until that happens, she said her focus is narrow.

“I never look past (anyone), so this is it for me,” Budd said. “This is everything. I’m imagining that this is just everything, so I put all my eggs in one basket. This preparation, mentally, physically, emotionally – it’s just been so good the last few months. So I’m not looking past this. This is it. That’s how I look at every fight.”