Aspen Ladd Transitions to Bellator, Meets Katerina Shakalova in Paris on May 17

Aspen Ladd will shift from Professional Fighters League to Bellator MMA for a showdown against Katerina Shakalova on May 17.

The promotion announced the featherweight pairing on Tuesday. Ladd vs. Shakalov will be part of the Bellator Champions Series Paris card, which takes place at Accor Arena and is headlined by a lightweight championship clash between Usman Nurmagomeodv and Alexandr Shabliy.

A seven-time UFC veteran, Ladd took part in the PFL’s featherweight season in 2023. The 29-year-old Californian last competed at the organization’s championship event, where she dropped a unanimous decision to Kayla Harrison in a 150-pound catchweight bout. The PFL does not have a 145-pound weight class for its 2024 season, which likely prompted Ladd’s move to Bellator.

Shakalova made her promotional debut this past August, taking a split verdict over Dayana Silva at Bellator 298. The 26-year-old Ukraine native has won eight of her nine professional outings overall.