Across the Pond Profile: Bellator MMA fighter Denise Keilholtz
When an athlete transitions into the world of mixed martial arts, it takes a while to find a comfortable groove and make the cross over. In today’s episode of Across The Pond, you will meet a Dutch cannon blasting Bellator MMA to smithereens with her bomb-like explosions in the ranks of women’s flyweight. A professional mixed martial artist since October 2015 and representing De Bunkr, Denise Keilholtz holds a 5-2 professional record in seven bouts comprised of three submissions, one knockout and one decision. Keilholtz has spent the bulk of her pro MMA tenure with Bellator MMA and has finished four out of her five victories in her career so far with three of those ending in a first-round finish and only one of the five wins overall making it into the judge’s hands or even making it past round number three. She has also competed for the promotion on the kickboxing side. In her Bellator MMA debut at Bellator 188, she faced Jessica Middleton and submitted her via scarf hold armlock in the first round. Keilholtz defeated Petra Castkova via unanimous decision at Bellator 196 to pick up the first and only decision win of her MMA career thus far. Then in her next appearance for Bellator MMA at Bellator 223, she defeated Bryony Tyrell via TKO in the third round to earn the only knockout victory so far in her MMA career. At Bellator London, Keilholtz tapped out Turkey’s Sabriye Sengul in the first round via keylock. For her next outing with Bellator MMA at Bellator 239, she took on Kristina Williams and submitted her via rear-naked choke in the first round. The win secured Keilholtz the third submission victory of her professional career. With an 80 per cent finishing rate, this cannon packs much more of an explosive punch than first meets the eye of the beholder!
