Valerie Loureda's Bellator 243 prediction: 'It's going to be easy for me'

Flyweight prospect Valerie Loureda sees herself with a stoppage win against Tara Graff at Bellator 243.

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Valerie Loureda expects to return to mixed martial arts competition in style.

The Bellator flyweight prospect takes on Tara Graff on Friday during the preliminary card of Bellator 243. This is Loureda’s first bout in more than a year. She’s been kept out of competition due to injury, an appearance on the reality television show “Exatlon,” and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Loureda (2-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) is excited to get back in the Bellator cage and expects to walk out with a finish.

“I think we’re both very aggressive and I think I’m going to be crazy – and when I’m crazy, I hit hard” Loureda told MMA Junkie. “I just think I’m going to stop her in a way she’s not going to expect. She really just comes forward and doesn’t move her head, and it’s going to be easy for me.”

The 22-year-old thinks the time away from competition has served her well and she expects to show a much improved version of herself compared to the last time she was seen in the cage.

“This Valerie Loureda is mentally a lot stronger,” Loureda said. “This Valerie Loureda that’s getting in the cage is completely different and is going to be more well-rounded in MMA, not just striking. I want to show all the talents I have in MMA, and I’m just going to show I’m not just an Instagram girl and I’m going to go out there and kick any girl’s ass.”

Even though there is less than half a year left in 2020, Loureda hopes to get busy and be able to log more fights before the year is up.

“I’m just very hard on myself, but ideally I want to do three fights a year,” Loureda said. “Last year, I did two and I filmed a reality show. This year, because of the quarantine, I wasn’t able to fight. But I want to do three or two more fights by the end of this year. I’m extremely hard on myself. I know I’m only 2-0, but I’ve been doing this my whole life, since I was a baby. I just feel old in this sport and I feel like I’ve been doing this for so long. I’ve felt so calm this week.”