After shutting down the division last year, Bellator MMA added two featherweight fighters in the women's division as they start a new era of Bellator female competitors.

Scott Coker, the new Bellator president, welcomed Julia Budd, the third-ranked featherweight, and Marloes Coenen, the former Strikeforce Bantamweight champion and Remix World Cup champion.

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However, Bellator did not mention the possibility of Gina Carano (7-1) joining their fold as the fighter has been off MMA for the past five years.

Coenen has an impressive record 21-6 in professional bouts with 15 victories coming off submissions. Of her wins, 12 of these were done in the first round.

Being the number two featherweight in the world, the 33-year-old mixed martial artist said she was pumped-up to get back in the cage and give the fans the most explosive fights.

"After fighting professionally for over 15 years, I am honored to be invited into the Bellator cage," Coenen stated in an interview with Yahoo Sports' Elias Cepeda.

"Fighting for Bellator brings my spirit back for fighting! It is great to be working together with Scott Coker again as we both have the same vision on fighting," she added. "My style is fighting with the objective to knock my opponent out or to submit her. That is exactly what I am planning to do the very first second I step into the Bellator cage."

On the other hand, Budd, who is on a four-fight winning streak, was recognized for her impressive Muay Thai skills in her stints at Strikeforce and Invicta.

Budd, 31, looks forward to do her thing on the Bellator cage. According to the Canadian striker, it gives her the chance to show her skills and prove that she is one of the best fighters in the mixed martial arts scene.

These two women will square off this year inside the Bellator cage to be broadcast on Spike TV.

Tagsbellator, MMA, julia budd, marloes coenen, women's division, featherweight