Britain Hart Beltran’s fight isn’t about righting a wrong against Bec Rawlings. This fight is about showing her that she can overcome anything.
Friday, Beltran and Rawlings will meet at BKFC 26, Hollywood, Fla. In their first meeting at BKFC 5 in April 2019, the former UFC and Bellator fighter got the nod via split decision in a very close fight. Before Beltran had to cancel due to medical emergencies, the second meeting was set to be held in May’s BKFC Fight Night: Omaha. She later explained that she was having a miscarriage.
The painful moment added to Beltran’s sadness following a vacant title loss to Christine Ferea at February’s KnuckleMania 2 event, which showed her that the loss to Ferea no longer mattered.
“When I lost, I was really, really sad, and when I found out I was pregnant, I kind of feel like that’s where my guilt and struggle comes from because I really wanted this fight,” Beltran told MMA Fighting. It was like “f***ing the fights” after losing the title. It’s hard to believe that I would ever feel upset about losing the title or any of these fights. It was losing. That’s what fighters feel. Because not many people have this opportunity, we must endure this pain.
” I feel that every fighter is equipped with that special piece of strength that allows them to fight in bare knuckle boxing or MMA with elbows or kicks. It takes a very special type of person to do that.”
After a breakout 2021 where Beltran beat former UFC fighters Paige VanZant and Pearl Gonzalez and finished Jenny Savage, she earned a BKFC title fight. Although the loss to Ferea was a setback, it wasn’t a loss that she had hoped to reverse. Now, she is looking forward to the fight with Rawlings.
“I’m not looking at this as a fight or a rematch, I’m looking at it as facing what I’m going through,” Beltran said. “2021 was the year I had, and since February, I’ve been through many s ***,. I need to learn, and prove to myself, that I am capable of going out on the 24th, with a plan and intelligence, that I have all the tools, the skill, and talent to defeat anyone and climb up again .”
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Despite all that Beltran has been through in the past few months, Beltran feels ready to get back into the boxing ring. This is not about her proving herself or beating a fighter who has waited almost three years for her to return to the ring. It is also about showing that hard work and sacrifice are worthwhile, that it was worth the pain and suffering, and that it still counts as a participant in the sport.
“It is a rematch and I do feel like in my heart that I won the first time so I can get some redemption,” Hart explained. I get to prove that the two judges were wrong. But this is for me, and to show everyone that I do have power, can step in with power, and have that technique and a game plan, and really proving it to myself.
” I want to prove that I belong in the sport and that I am a fighter. I think beating Bec is the best way to make a statement and establish my place in BKFC. It is a fact that I have fought and defeated the very best. I’m coming out there with everything and I’ve got everything to prove to show I’ve been really working hard despite through a medical emergency — I don’t know if you can imagine going through fatigue, emotional trauma, blood work every day — to get into the gym every day with no excuses. I’m fighting through it and on the 24th, I’m going to show it was all worth it.”
