Keri Melendez had all the makings of a breakout star for Bellator heading into her first-ever MMA fight.
She carried legitimate Muay Thai credentials, trained alongside the likes of Jake Shields and the Diaz brothers, and just so happened to be married to former Strikeforce lightweight champion and two-time UFC title contender Gilbert Melendez.
The stage was set for a spectacular debut at Bellator 165 on Nov. 19, 2016 and “The Queen of the Skrap Pack” delivered with a 47-second finish:
It was exactly what Bellator officials were looking for.