“Russian Ronda” is headed to Bellator MMA.
Flyweight Irina Alekseeva, also known as “Russian Ronda” (as in Rousey) according to her Tapology page, has signed a multifight deal with the promotion.
A Bellator official recently informed MMA Junkie of the signing after an Instagram announcement post by Alekseeva’s manager, Brian Butler. No debut date or opponent was revealed by Bellator or Butler.
Alekseeva (3-1 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) is a three-time silver medalist at the Russian Judo Championships and a Russian and European gold medalist at Sambo Worlds. Additionally, she is a multiple-time “hand-to-hand combat champion.”
The 30-year-old joins Bellator coming off a loss suffered in ProFC in December 2019. The defeat, a unanimous decision to Liliya Kazak, was the first of her professional career. Prior to the loss, Alekseeva had won three straight fights which included one victory by submission and another by the opponent’s “refusal to fight.”