Ahead of her third professional fight on Friday night, Valerie Loureda wanted to set the record straight before she took on Tara Graff at Bellator 243, which took place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
The 22-year-old is very active on social media that has garnered a bunch of attention she rocks a bikini, or dancing in a video.
She wanted to make it clear that she is only doing that for herself and no one else.
“I don’t do anything for social media,” Loureda told reporters at the Bellator 243 virtual media day. “I do things for myself. For example, I am an extreme girly-girl outside of the cage. So the way that I market myself, it’s not for social media and it’s not for men. This is the way that I look. I’ve worked my whole life to have this body, to have this figure—I was a ballerina, I’ve been a martial artist.
“I think that’s where people mistake. It’s not for social media. I am the way that I look like, but I’m also a fighter. What does one thing have to do with the other? Just because I look different than other martial artists doesn’t make me any different. It’s my identity, this is why Valerie Loureda is different.”
UFC bantamweight Macy Chiasson took exception to her posts back in May when she blasted her on Twitter on a video where Loureda was dancing following a training session.
“Lol I fucking can’t anymore.
Is this the message we want to continue to convey to not only our future leaders but to the disgusting already misogynistic dudes out here.
Are we here to fight and be role models or are we here for male followers and strip teases.”
“I have different passions outside of the cage and that’s okay,” Loureda explained. “The way I am doesn’t mean I market myself like that. It means i’m a normal girl who has an education outside of the cage and that should be recognized.
“It’s just jealousy and they’re not educated in that aspect. They’ve never seen it before and they can’t handle it. But they will when they see me fight in the cage.”
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Loureda proved that when she knocked out Graff and danced in the ring to celebrate.
She might not post for men, but the men certainly love it: