Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
The seemingly unbeatable Cris Cyborg was back in action tonight (Sat., July 27, 2019) at UFC 240, which took place inside Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, looking to get back in the win column after Amanda Nunes destroyed the Brazilian powerhouse in just 51 seconds seven months ago and claimed her Featherweight title in the process.
Standing in her was Invicta FC’s 145-pound champion, Felicia Spencer, an undefeated (7-0) Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist who was out to shock the mixed martial arts (MMA) world. It didn’t happen, but Spencer turned in a gritty, eye-opening performance in competitive defeat.
Cyborg came out winging powerful punches and kicks, including a head kick, but Spencer countered with a hard shot that opened up the Brazilian’s nose. Spencer was finally able to close the distance, pressing Cyborg up against the cage and looking to get the fight on her terms. Cyborg broke free and nailed Spencer with a huge shot, but it didn’t appear to do damage. Cyborg followed up with another short shot as she came in, dropping Spencer to a knee. Spencer kept on trucking, though, eating several hard shots along the cage and continuing to move forward. Cyborg’s face was a bloody mess, but it was Spencer who was getting lit up for most of the round. Spencer pressed Cyborg up against the cage once again and nailed her with a tricky up-elbow that appeared to split open her forehead.
Cyborg hit Spencer with everything but the kitchen sink in the opening round, but Spencer appeared to be the fresher and much, much cleaner fighter heading into the second stanza. Cyborg unleashed a monster head kick to kick things off, which Spencer absorbed, caught and used to push the Brazilian up against the fence once again. Spencer eventually ended up pulling guard, but Cyborg ended up nailing her with hard shots. She stood up just long enough for Spencer to land a solid upkick before heading back down to the canvas to rain down more ground-and-pound. Cyborg eventually let her stand up and they traded punches on the restart. Cyborg connected with a hard low kick, but Spencer responded with a hard right cross on the chin. Cyborg connected with a hard right hand just as the round came to a close, snapping Spencer’s head straight back, but once again, seemingly not having much effect.
Spencer started the third and final round with a Superman punch, which Cyborg dodged and countered. Spencer tried to bum rush her, but Cyborg responded with two hard knees and a cross. Midway through the round Cyborg began to really open up, appearing to finally do some noticeable damage. Spencer, though, was somehow still in it despite being on the wrong end of more than 100 significant strike landed.
In the end, Cyborg was just too powerful for Spencer, who turned in a super impressive and tough performance. She went toe-to-toe with the Muay Thai wrecking ball and took her best shots and the chin and kept moving forward. The problem was she was unable to get the fight to the floor despite seven attempts, earning Cyborg a big win and potentially a future rematch with Nunes.
If she’s still around, of course.
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 240 fight card all night long, starting with the Fight Pass “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard balance on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET, before the pay-per-view (PPV) main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
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