Bellator’s 20-year-old Valerie Loureda made her professional MMA debut at Bellator 216 in February and has since fought again at Bellator 222, emerging victorious in both bouts. She seemingly burst onto the MMA scene out of nowhere. But where did she come from?
A Taekwondo Legacy
Born in Miami, Florida, Valerie Loureda comes from a family of Taekwondo specialists. She began training in the discipline with her father as a toddler. In a unique twist, her journey in Taekwondo technically began before birth—her mother, Milagros ‘Mily’ Loureda, tested for her black belt while pregnant with Valerie.
Her father, Francisco ‘Grandmaster Frank’ Loureda, started Taekwondo at age five. A decade later, he moved to the United States and began teaching an after-school Taekwondo class at W.R. Thomas Middle School in Miami-Dade County. After 15 years, he opened his own Taekwondo school in 1992, which has since been regarded as one of the top martial arts schools in the Miami area. Grandmaster Frank is an eighth-degree Taekwondo black belt.
Valerie trained under her father and earned a fourth-degree Taekwondo black belt. However, as she continued competing, she noticed Taekwondo was evolving into a more point-based system, while her fighting style leaned towards finishing opponents. This realization sparked her interest in MMA.
Transition to MMA
By age 15, Loureda had already achieved ‘Master’ status in Taekwondo, an honor reserved for top-tier, Olympic-level practitioners. She was preparing for the Olympic qualifiers when her family faced a devastating challenge—her mother was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.
Milagros endured multiple rounds of treatment, including chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant that ultimately saved her life. During this time, Valerie took on the role of caretaker for her two younger sisters, Natalie and Francesca. Both of her sisters are also accomplished in Taekwondo. Natalie holds a fourth-degree black belt, and Francesca is also a black belt.
After her mother’s recovery, Valerie shifted her focus to MMA. She competed in the amateur circuit and compiling a 2-1 record, with her only loss coming via split decision.
She would eventually sign with Bellator MMA, makingher professional debut in early 2019 at Bellator 216. She ended up defeating Colby ‘Dreamcatcher’ Fletcher by first-round TKO at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Her next fight took place at Bellator 222 in New York’s legendary Madison Square Garden. She took on fellow Bellator signee Larkyn Dasch. Loureda secured a unanimous decision victory after three rounds.
What’s next for Valerie Loureda? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain—the future looks bright for the Taekwondo Master and rising Bellator prospect out of Miami, Florida.
