Judith Ruis in preparation for "Bellator" debut in February

Judith Ruis from Budokeller Bonlanden is currently meticulously preparing for the biggest challenge of her career. On February 23, the current No. 4 women's "Pound for Pound" debuts in Germany at Bellator in Dublin (Ireland). She will face IMMAF European and World Champion Leah McCourt of SBG Charlestown, who will go into the match as a local hero and with two wins at Bellator with a huge tailwind.

On paper at least, McCourt is the clear favorite, having not lost a fight so far at the IMMAF European and World Championships. Only in her professional debut at Cagewarriors she lost, but has since been victorious in all three of her other professional fights at Cagewarriors and Bellator.

But the extremely modest and down-to-earth MMA athlete from Bonlanden also has one or the other ounce of experience and success that she can throw into the balance here. Her last opponent Cinja Kiefer, after all MMA world champion, was defeated in round 1 and had to give up in Judith's stranglehold. The experience Judith has gained against top athletes from all over the world shows in her clear and strongly structured fighting style. A little more than a year ago she also fought in the main event at DEEP Jewels in Tokyo against Ricin Superstar King Reina and lost by a narrow margin on points.

In the German Top Team she also has numerous training and sparring partners, who are currently alternating between Reutlingen and Bonlanden to support Judith in her preparation. In addition to her coach Jan Gromann, Judith can also rely on the help of top fighters such as Christina Brauchle, Tanja Angerer, Stefan Hoss and Markus Held. And additionally she works with Sandra Holzer condition and mobility, and is supported by the Doctor Jürgen Mack also medically attended by a real martial arts coriphae to make her debut successful. So Judith is in good hands.

The last four weeks before the fight will certainly be the most intensive ones and besides her daily training in the Budokeller, Judith can also be seen regularly at the German Top Team HQ in Reutlingen. Follow our Instagram account to see pictures from the preparation and not miss any news.