Juliana Velasquez remains the Bellator flyweight champion, though she overcame her first title defense against Denise Kielholtz at Bellator 262 by the skin of her teeth.
Velasquez (12-0) eked out a razor-thin split decision over Kielholtz (6-3) in a striking-heavy affair Friday night in the main event of Bellator 262, which took place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. After vowing all week to defeat Kielholtz — a world-class kickboxer and the current Bellator Kickboxing women’s flyweight champion — on the feet, Velasquez stayed true to her word and utilized a long jab and slick knees to bloody Kielholtz’s left eye and do just enough to leave the cage with her title intact.