Valerie Loureda quickly captivated MMA fans as the 4-1 fighter recently earned a split decision win over Taylor Turner at Bellator 271. Although Loureda is known as an MMA fighter, the 23-year-old also earned the title of Miss MMA.
Now, the 23-year-old former taekwondo competitor is grabbing the attention of her 952,000 followers after posting a steamy bikini photo to her Instagram Story.
Valerie Loureda’s Hot Pink Bikini Photo
Valerie Loureda brought steam to social media with her latest Instagram Story photo as she is seen on her knees in a pool, sporting a skimpy hot pink bikini.
She posted the photo along with a simple white heart emoji.
The 23-year-old also wore a pair of big sunglasses and her iconic necklace, as her hair is damp and crimped.
Later, the now WWE star posed in front of a mirror, wearing a black top with black cut-out shorts, paired perfectly with sheer, sparkle boots. She also posted a photo of just the stylish shoes, tagging the WWE Performance Center.
Valerie Loureda Signs With WWE
Earlier this year, the Miss MMA model announced she has signed a contract with WWE, ending her time in MMA. When speaking to the new chapter in her life, Loureda told Ariel Helwani, “I have now become the first Cuban-American woman and I am now a WWE superstar. I’m really excited, and I’ve dedicated my whole life to martial arts, and everything has come to this moment. And this is my opportunity to showcase my culture and entertain the world.”
Trying to hold back tears, the fighter continued to say, “I’m emotional because I’ve worked really hard in my whole life. I’ve had a very hard upbringing, and every day, I’ve always just believed in myself, and trained hard hoping to make it to the next step and just chasing a dream that I’ve had in my heart since I was a baby.”
Bellator President Scott Coker also released a statement to MMA Fighting on Loureda’s decision to move to the WWE:
“Valerie Loureda is a very young and talented athlete who can accomplish plenty in MMA for years to come, but for now we wish her the best of luck as she pursues her dream of becoming a WWE Superstar. She will remain an active and under contract fighter with Bellator, and we look forward to welcoming her back into the cage in the near future. We take great pride in allowing our athletes to test themselves in additional arenas such as boxing and pro-wrestling.”
Loureda wanted to thank the Bellator executives for believing in her, saying, “Scott Coker and Mike Kogan, Rich Chou, they believed in me when I was 19 years old. My first professional fight was without shinguards at the Mohegan Sun. opening a main card. They gave me an opportunity opening a main card. They gave me an opportunity to brand myself and build this platform and just be me. Now, I’m making this transition, and my mind has shifted, but I know what I’m going to do in the WWE.”
The 23-year-old concluded with, “I love fighting, but this is my time.”
