Former Bellator title challenger Arlene Blencowe puts MMA career on hold for boxing match

Former Bellator title challenger Arlene Blencowe will return to competition next month, but it won’t be in an MMA fight.

Blencowe will return to the boxing ring for the first time in more than two years on April 7 when she meets Deanha Hobbs at Brisbane Convention Center in Brisbane, Australia. A Bellator official told MMAjunkie that she remains under contract with the promotion, but she was allowed to take the boxing fight.

The 34-year-old Blencowe, who is 4-4 in boxing and 10-7 in MMA, came up just short of the Bellator women’s featherweight title at Bellator 189 in December. “Angerfist” suffered a split-decision loss to champ Julia Budd, snapping her three-fight winning streak.

Announcing her fight on social media, Blencowe said preparation for her boxing match against Hobbs has been difficult due to some personal troubles. She said she wouldn’t withdraw from the fight, though, and made it clear she likes her chances of taking out her unbeaten opponent (via Facebook):

For more on the Bellator schedule, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.