Ring girl Mercedes leaves Bellator after 11-year career with promotion
By Chad Porto
After 11 years with Bellator as a ring girl, Mercedes will be leaving the promotion after Bellator 246.
Bellator‘s greatest ring girl of all time, Mercedes Terrell, is calling it a career after Bellator 246. Many may not realize why this is a big deal but that’s because they don’t know that ring girls in MMA are more than just pretty faces that parade around the cage/ring with a sign. For Bellator and other major MMA promotions, the ring girls are part of the presentation, not too dissimilar than cheerleaders in the NFL and football in the United States.
Much like those very same cheerleaders, the job of a ring girl isn’t just holding a sign that tells you the round. It involves acting as an ambassador for the brand as well. Their duties include doing interviews, autograph signings, appearing at weight-ins, and doing fan events. A lot is asked of these women. so for Mercedes to give 11 years to Bellator is something to celebrate and commend her for.
That’s why before the night’s fights started, Bellator announced that Terrell was walking away from her role after 11 years and will be transitioning into a new career.
https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/1304946967244537856
Ever since ring girls became prominent in MMA, they’ve developed their own fanbases and have even been featured in their own docuseries, and have landed roles as TV hots. The most famous of them may just be Arianny Celeste of the UFC. For a long time, she was one of the most popular personalities of the UFC brand.
While Terrell isn’t as well known to the mainstream as Celeste is, Terrell’s contributions to Bellator are no less impressive. Congratulations to Terrell for a wonderful career, and Bellator fans everywhere can’t wait to see what she has in store next.
Next. Bellator 246: Juan Archuleta vs. Patchy Mix live results and highlights. dark