Julia Budd is a Canadian-born female Muay Thai fighter turned mixed martial arts competitor. Budd began training Muay Thai while in high school and soon was taking on and defeating competition including future MMA star Gina Carano. Budd decided to transition to mixed martial arts and was signed by Strikeforce in late 2010.

Julia Olivia Budd (born July 4, 1983) is a Canadian kickboxer and mixed martial artist. She has fought in MMA promotions Strikeforce and Invicta Fighting Championships. She is the former Bellator Women's Featherweight world champion. 

Budd is currently the #3-ranked 145-pound female MMA fighter in the world according to the Unified Women's MMA Rankings.

Budd practiced Muay Thai for many years and later became the only woman to defeat American Gina Carano in Muay Thai competition. Her second and final loss in the ring came by Germaine de Randamie, after which Budd made the move to MMA. Her Muay Thai record is 10–2. She began training in MMA at the end of 2008 and avenged her loss to de Randamie when she defeated her via unanimous decision in a 2011 MMA bout. Budd trains at the Gibson Kickboxing & Pankration Academy.

She made her MMA debut on October 22, 2010 at Strikeforce Challengers 11, defeating Shana Nelson via TKO in the second round. In her second fight for the promotion, Budd was knocked out in 14 seconds by Amanda Nunes at Strikeforce Challengers 13 on January 7, 2011. On June 24, 2011, Budd faced Germaine de Randamie in a rematch under MMA rules at Strikeforce Challengers 16. She defeated de Randamie via unanimous decision. Budd's final fight for Strikeforce came on November 18, 2011 when she was submitted by Ronda Rousey at Strikeforce Challengers 20.

In 2012, Budd signed with Invicta Fighting Championships and faced Swedish fighter Elina Nilsson at Invicta FC 2: Baszler vs. McMann on July 28, 2012. She defeated Nilsson via TKO in the first round. 

Budd returned to Invicta FC on October 6, 2012 at Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama. She was originally scheduled to face Elaina Maxwell, but Maxwell sustained a concussion in training and Budd instead faced Danielle West. She defeated West via TKO in the first round. Budd was scheduled to face Ediane Gomes at Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson on April 5, 2013. However, on February 15, 2013, it was announced that Invicta FC had signed Cristiane Santos to face Gomes on the card and Budd was to face Australian Fiona Muxlow. On March 19, 2013, Invicta FC announced that Gomes was injured and that Muxlow would now face Santos. Budd remained on the card and instead faced Mollie Estes. She won the fight via submission in the third round. Budd was again scheduled to face Ediane Gomes at Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborg on July 13, 2013. However, she suffered a neck injury and withdrew from the fight on June 26, 2013. On December 7, 2013, Budd faced Charmaine Tweet at Invicta FC 7. She won the fight via unanimous decision.

In August 2014, Budd signed with Bellator. Budd was expected to make her promotional debut at Bellator 133 on February 13, 2015 versus Talita Nogueira. However, Nogueira pulled out of the fight due to a knee injury, so Budd instead faced Gabrielle Holloway. She won the fight via unanimous decision. Budd was set to face former Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion Marloes Coenen for the inaugural Bellator Woman's Featherweight Championship at Bellator 155, however Budd got injured and was replaced by Alexis Dufresne in a non-title fight bout. Budd faced Arlene Blencowe at Bellator 162 on October 21, 2016. She won the fight by majority decision. Budd faced Marloes Coenen for Bellator's inaugural women's featherweight championship at Bellator 174 on March 3, 2017. She stopped the veteran Coenen in the fourth round via strikes after securing the full mount position. In her first title defense, Budd faced Arlene Blencowe in a rematch on December 1, 2017 at Bellator 189. She won the fight by split decision. In her second title defense, Budd faced Talita Nogueira on July 13, 2018 at Bellator 202. She won the fight and successfully defended her title via TKO in the third round. In April 2019, news surfaced that Budd had signed a new, four-fight contract with Bellator. In her fourth title defense, Budd faced Cris Cyborg on January 25, 2020 at Bellator 238 in Inglewood, California. She lost the fight via technical knockout in round four.