CHICAGO – Denise Kielholtz already was a successful kickboxer when she took home gold for Bellator Kickboxing in 2016.
Now seven years later as a crossover combat sports athlete, Kielholz (8-5 MMA, 8-4 BMMA) reflected on her transition into mixed martial arts, thanks to a promotion which soon may no longer exist.
“Exactly this weekend, six years ago, I fought my very first Bellator MMA fight,” Kielholtz told MMA Junkie and other reporters after her Bellator 301 win Friday at Wintrust Arena. “I was already the Bellator Kickboxing champ. Six years ago, I fought my first MMA fight and I won. Now, I’m six years further. I’m fighting on this card in Chicago and I feel like everything tonight is history. For me, it’s just a pleasure to be in it and be on this card. I’m thankful for everything Bellator has done for me. Now I don’t think about anything further than Bellator because Bellator is really in my heart.”
