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Aspen Ladd gets debut win over Julia Budd at the PFL Championships

By Chad Porto

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 24: Aspen Ladd (L) and Julia Budd (R) face off for the last time ahead of their PFL Championship fight during the ceremonial weigh-ins on November 24, 2022, at the Manhattan Center in New York, NY. (Photo by Amy Kaplan/Icon Sportswire)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 24: Aspen Ladd (L) and Julia Budd (R) face off for the last time ahead of their PFL Championship fight during the ceremonial weigh-ins on November 24, 2022, at the Manhattan Center in New York, NY. (Photo by Amy Kaplan/Icon Sportswire) /
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Julia Budd and Aspen Ladd met at the PFL Championships

Two featherweights that needed a win met at the PFL Championships when a Bellator legend in Julia Budd met a former UFC rising prospect in Aspen Ladd. The two women both needed to get a win to close out the 2022 season.

Budd, who is known for her striking, wanted to keep the fight standing, but Ladd knew this and took her down to the ground to start the fight. Ladd was able to get the advantage early but Budd was able to battle back and take the top position on Ladd, but Ladd reversed that and held the advantage to close out the round.

The second round saw the two women clinch relatively fast into the second round, not really throwing a lot of big shots. Budd used the clinch to land some knees, while Ladd continued to try and take the fight to the ground. Ladd ate a lot of knees while she was in the clinch, and was able to get some space between her and Budd, but Budd went right back into the clinch.

Julia Budd and Aspen Ladd had a very unique fight at the PFL Championships

Budd was able to do a lot of damage in the third with her jab, avoiding leg kicks and applying pressure. Ladd tried taking Budd down on a few occasions but Budd was able to avoid the attempts and doled out damage in the clinch. Ladd started throwing more but her strikes were wilder, as opposed to Budd’s, who was able to land more accurate strikes.

At the end of it, however, Ladd was able to get the win with a split decision in her PFL debut. No doubt a fight that many will have scored differently depending on who you ask.

Next. PFL Championships live results: Kayla Harrison vs. Larissa Pacheco 3. dark

The PFL Championships takes place on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, live from the Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY. Follow along with FanSided MMA, who is on site for all your news and highlights.