The professional kickboxer-turned-cage fighter will compete in MMA for the second time when she meets Tiani Valle in a strawweight bout at Bellator 201 on June 29 at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, Calif.
This will be Melendez’s first fight since her MMA debut on Nov. 19, 2016, a first-round TKO win over Sheila Padilla. Officials announced Melendez’s return on Monday.
Melendez, 34, was supposed to be part of Bellator’s first visit to New York City last July, but suffered an injury that forced her to withdraw from the card.