Denise Kielholtz


Denise Kielholtz is a Dutch female Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial artist, based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. She has competed professionally since 2004 and is the current Bellator Kickboxing Women's Flyweight Champion.

Mixed martial arts career

Kielholtz made her professional MMA debut at Torarica Summer Fights 1 in October, 2015. She lost the fight via submission.

Bellator MMA

Kielholtz signed with Bellator in 2016, appearing in the promotion's inaugural kickboxing card, Bellator Kickboxing 1 in Torino, Italy on April 16, 2016. She would go 4–1 in kickboxing for the promotion, winning the Flyweight Championship along the way.
Kielholtz then made her Bellator MMA debut at Bellator 188 against Jessica Middleton. She won the fight via submission.
Kielholtz was expected to face Lena Ovchynnikova in the co-main event of Bellator 196 in Budapest, Hungary on April 6, 2018. However, Ovchynnikova pulled out of the fight and was replaced by Petra Částková. Kielholtz won the fight by unanimous decision.
Kielholtz faced Veta Arteaga on September 21, 2018 at Bellator 205. She lost the fight via a submission.
Kielholtz faced Bryony Tyrell at Bellator 223 on June 22, 2019. She won the fight via TKO in the third round.
Kielholtz faced Sabriye Şengül at Bellator London 2 on November 23, 2019. She won the fight via an Americana submission in the first round.
Kielholtz faced Kristina Williams at Bellator 239 on February 21, 2020. She won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.
Kielholtz faced former Bellator Women's Flyweight title challenger Kate Jackson at Bellator 247 on October 1, 2020. She won the bout via knockout just 43 seconds into the first round. Subsequently, she signed a new contract with the Bellator MMA.
Kielholtz fought for the Bellator Women's Flyweight World Championship against champion Juliana Velasquez on July 16, 2021 at Bellator 262. She lost the bout in a razor thin split decision.
Kielholtz faced Kana Watanabe on May 13, 2022 at Bellator 281. She lost the fight via a triangle choke submission in the second round.
Kielholtz faced Ilara Joanne on December 9, 2022, at Bellator 289. She lost the fight via split decision.
Kielholtz faced Paula Cristina on May 12, 2023 at Bellator 296. She won the fight by unanimous decision.
Kielholtz faced Sumiko Inaba on November 17, 2023 at Bellator 301. In a bout contested mostly on the feet, Kielholtz maintained the advantage and won the bout via unanimous decision.
Kielholtz was scheduled to face Taila Santos on April 4, 2024 at PFL 1. However, a week before the event it was announced that Kielholtz had pulled out.
Kielholtz is scheduled to face Dakota Ditcheva in a flyweight bout at PFL: Road to Dubai on February 7, 2026, at the Coca-Cola Arena.

Personal life

Kielholtz was born in Amsterdam to a Dutch father and a Curaçaoan mother. She is married to kickboxer Hesdy Gerges.

Championships and awards

Kickboxing

Kickboxing record

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