Denise Kielholtz might possibly perchance possibly not rip judges after Bellator 262 title-struggle loss: ‘I handiest blame myself’

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Despite emotions running high, Denise Kielholtz used to be all class in the wake of her loss to Juliana Velasquez in Friday’s Bellator 262 main tournament.

Kielholtz (6-3 MMA, 6-3 BMMA) might possibly perchance not earn come nearer to taking the women’s flyweight title from Velasquez (12-0 MMA, 7-0 BMMA) at Mohegan Sun Enviornment in Uncasville, Conn. She dropped a split decision, with scores of 48-47, 47-48, and 48-47.

With peril true through her face and tears in her eyes, Kielholtz attended the Bellator 262 submit-struggle info convention. Clearly heartbroken, she had a platform and opportunity to lash out at the judges. She didn’t, nonetheless, and as a change took the high aspect road.

“They repeatedly dispute don’t let it in the hands of the judges,” Kielholtz told MMA Junkie and diverse newshounds. “I don’t blame someone. I handiest blame myself that I didn’t earn extra and I know I will be able to earn extra, so that’s exact disappointing to myself. The judges, they earn their work and I’m not of their eyes the champion tonight, but for obvious I am going to be one day.”

Kielholtz, a Bellator kickboxing champion, used to be handiest competing in her ninth MMA struggle, yet managed to provide the champion a bustle for her money. She thinks she “proved to all people that I’m not exact a kickboxer, I’d moreover be an MMA champion,” but she didn’t earn the nod at Bellator 262.

The consequence handiest drives Kielholtz to be better spellbinding forward, she mentioned. She intends to come to coaching in her native Holland as quickly as she’s fit to earn so, and he or she is already extreme a few 2d crack at the belt.

“It’s genuinely disappointing, this sense factual now,” Kielholtz mentioned. “It used to be a genuinely shut struggle. I design I was the particular particular individual that came to struggle and elevate the struggle. Unfortunately, the judges saw it exact a minute approach to her. Fracture up decision loss, that hurts. For now, it’s disappointment in myself, and I exact trot aid to Holland, work more durable and I enlighten maybe a rematch in Amsterdam.”

Kielholtz mentioned she would be open to taking on yet any other contender such as Ilima-Lei Macfarlane or Liz Carmouche if the promotion decides against an instantaneous rematch.

She thinks she has a honest case to bustle it aid true away, though. It used to be an spellbinding and tactical affair for 25 minutes, and Kielholtz is confident a sequel might possibly perchance be even better.

“I enlighten so. I enlighten the subsequent struggle will be extra stress-free. That’s for obvious. Who’s aware of? It all is dependent on Bellator.”

Stare Kielholtz’s chubby submit-struggle press convention above.