Bellator books Sumiko Inaba vs. Keri Taylor-Melendez for San Diego

Two homegrown Bellator women’s flyweight contenders have been matched for a fall showdown.

Sumiko Inaba and Keri Taylor-Melendez will collide at a Bellator Champions Series event Sept. 7 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, a promotion official recently informed MMA Junkie.

Maui’s Inaba (7-1) was signed to Bellator before her professional debut. She won her first six fights but then lost to Denise Kielholtz by unanimous decision in November. In June, she bounced back under the PFL banner with a split decision win over Saray Orozco.

Taylor-Melendez (6-0) debuted in MMA in 2016 after a successful kickboxing career. She’s only competed six times in the nearly eight years since, but the results have always been the same for her fights: a Melendez win. Her most recent fight in November was her first in three years. She defeated Sabriye Sengul by submission.

With the addition, the Bellator Champions Series: San Diego lineup includes:

• Champion Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Alexander Shabliy
• Marcos Breno vs. Raufeon Stots
• Levan Chokheli vs. Lorenz Larkin
• Sumiko Inaba vs. Keri Talyor-Melendez

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator Champions Series: San Diego.