With an inaugural champion crowned earlier this year, and a number of recent signings, Bellator MMA is looking to become the number one home of the women’s featherweight division.

It is fitting then that Arlene Blencowe, the #5 ranked featherweight in the unified rankings, is on her way back to Bellator in August.

The 34-year-old meets Sinead Kavanagh on August 25 at Bellator 182. The event takes place at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, New York.

Blencowe last fought in the Bellator cage in October last year, losing by majority decision to Julia Budd. Given that Budd has since gone on to become Bellator champion, it was a defeat that came with no shame attached.

The same could be said of Blencowe’s other Bellator defeat against Marloes Coenen in August 2015. Coenen is a former Strikeforce champion and one of the all-time greats.

Mixed in with those defeats were impressive wins against Adrienna Jenkins and Gabby Holloway. After her 2-2 run in 2015-16, Blencowe has signed a new two-year deal with Bellator after rebuilding with a couple of impressive wins on the Gold Coast.

Janay Harding and Rhiannon Thompson have provided the 2017 opposition. Both were dispatched quickly as Blencowe cemented her spot in the top half of the featherweight division’s top ten.

Now the 34-year-old has her sights set on improving her Bellator record to 3-2 with a win over Kavanagh in August. Kavanagh trains at the SBG gym under John Kavanagh and holds a 4-1 professional record.

As Blencowe told the Western Weekender this week, Kavanagh is the right opponent, and Bellator are the right promotion for her next scrap.

“The exciting thing about this fight is that Sinead has the same fight background as me – she’s a boxer, who switched to MMA. I think this will be a great fight for me to showcase my striking skills.

“Re-signing with Bellator was definitely the right decision. In the end it came down to loyalty and Bellator were the ones to give me an opportunity to fight internationally when my record wasn’t crash hot.

“They took a chance on me, welcomed me into their family and have been very supportive ever since.”