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Get the inside scoop on the main card action of UFC 240, featuring what could very well be the last fight of Cris Cyborg in the UFC as she looks to thwart the efforts of Canada’s own Felicia Spencer.
Given she’s on the last fight on her UFC contract, UFC 240 could be the last time we see Cris Cyborg in the world’s premier MMA organization. Her relationship with Dana White has never been very good – he did call her Wanderlei Silva in a dress at one point – and she has expressed frustration with the organization as a whole on multiple occasions. I’m sure Dana White saying Cyborg is scared to fight Amanda Nunes is merely a tactic to try and get Cyborg to re-sign, but I get the feeling White isn’t all that familiar with what the best negotiating tactics are to keep Cyborg around. She’ll be challenged by Felicia Spencer, who looks like she is the future of featherweight. However, Spencer would like to believe the future is now….
The main card of UFC 240 begins on ESPN+ at 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT on Saturday.
Cris Cyborg (20-2, 1 NC) vs. Felicia Spencer (7-0), Women’s Featherweight
Cyborg may not be the featherweight champion anymore, but nobody believes she’s no longer the dominant force she has been sold as for a decade. Rather than looking physically diminished, it looked like Nunes just caught her as Nunes easily represented the best athlete Cyborg has faced in her career… by far. Aside from some nervous energy from being KO’d for the first time in her career, it would be shocking to see Cyborg suffering a setback from the high-level fight fans have become accustomed to seeing out of her.
Everyone knows about what a physical specimen Cyborg is. Perhaps the historical benchmark for fitness in women’s MMA, Cyborg’s technical striking is often lost in the mix. Her performance against Holly Holm for five rounds perfectly illustrates that notion. Cyborg didn’t physically overwhelm Holm. She picked her apart. She did resort to brawling against Nunes after Nunes landed her first clean shot, but it would be shocking to see that happen with Spencer given the Canadian’s lack of punching prowess. If Cyborg can keep this contest on the feet, it will be a long night for Spencer.
That isn’t to say Spencer is inept on the feet. She’s actually come along nicely in that department since beginning her career as a lightweight. However, she was also essentially starting at ground zero and isn’t anywhere near the level of the likes of Cyborg or Nunes. Despite that shortcoming, Spencer’s aggressive wrestling and grappling has been able to make up for that shortcoming. Her specialty is the RNC, securing all four of her submission wins in that manner, though it would be foolhardy to believe that’s the only method she can threaten with. The key will be to find entries for her takedown attempts without taking much damage from Cyborg. That will be far more difficult to do than it has been against any of her other previous opponents. Far more dangerous too….
As much as I like Spencer, she’s rightfully being labeled a longshot. Cyborg may not have a title to lose, but her value would take a huge hit if she were to drop this contest. It’s all about the Benjamins for Cyborg. If Spencer loses, no one will be surprised and they’ll expect her to get a shot at the gold eventually anyway given the lack of bodies in the division. Cyborg has plenty of motivation and doesn’t appear to have lost a thing. Perhaps Spencer can hang around for a round, but Cyborg’s takedown defense is close to impenetrable. It’s doubtful this goes the distance. Cyborg via TKO of RD1
Geoff Neal (11-2) vs. Niko Price (13-2, 1 NC), Welterweight
While I’ll admit there is a hell of a fall in quality from the main and co-main event compared to the rest of the card, that doesn’t mean the rest of the contests shouldn’t be fun. This one in particular….
Neal was on absolutely no one’s radar a few years ago. A string of canceled bouts on the regional scene had any good juju he accumulated before 2017 largely irrelevant before falling to Kevin Holland. Nonetheless, he got a call to appear on DWCS shortly thereafter as an injury replacement and he made the most of his opportunity. Since that point, Neal has steadily progressed in every single contest, remaining undefeated in his UFC career after three fights. His most recent contest saw him pick apart one of the better technicians in the welterweight division in Belal Muhammad. Neal had flashed his ample athleticism prior to that, surprising many that he was able to maintain space and utilize angles in the manner he did.
Measured would be the last word used to describe Price. Nonetheless, the uber-aggressive style works for the Floridian, winging heavy punches that can either knock his opponent silly or allow him to close the distance for a potential takedown. Price isn’t a great wrestler in the technical sense, but he’s an underrated scrambler with a nose for opportunity. While he pushes a heavy pace, it’s not yet known if he can maintain that work rate as he has yet to have a fight of his in the UFC leave the second round.
I’ll be the first to admit UFC 240 is a shallow card, but I’m not going to point to this contest as one of the faults for that admission. While Neal and Price aren’t close to being household names, they have proven themselves to be staunch action fighters who can bring a crowd to their feet. Both have shown gradual improvement too, but I’m going with Neal. Price has struggled with previous athletic opponents, including Randy Brown, whom he was clearly losing to before KOing him in one of the weirdest finishes anyone can remember. Neal may not have the raw power of Price, but he has enough to put him away. Neal via TKO of RD2
Olivier Aubin-Mercier (11-4) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (13-2), Lightweight
Tsarukyan made a hell of an impression in his UFC debut, despite dropping a decision to Islam Makhachev. The Armenian relentlessly went after his more established opponent, initiating Makhachev in as many grappling and wrestling engagements as he could. Though Makhachev was able to win most of those scrambles – thus taking the decision – Tsarukyan took his fair share, an impressive feat given Makhachev’s prowess on the mat. He didn’t get much of an opportunity to show what he can do on the feet, but his kicking game appears to be the most developed aspect of his standup.
Similar to Tsarukyan, Aubin-Mercier – also known as OAM – is a far more accomplished grappler than he is striker. A judoka since youth, some aspects of OAM’s grappling is second nature, such as his ability to find his opponent’s back and sink in an RNC. The other aspects of the fight game haven’t caught up and it’s unlikely they will at this stage as he’s five years into his UFC career. However, just because everything else hasn’t caught up to his trips, throws, and back takes doesn’t mean OAM hasn’t progressed anywhere else. He has established a solid jab, but the clinch is still his favorite spot to be when he’s on his feet.
OAM is coming off of two difficult losses in a row to Alexander Hernandez and Gilbert Burns, both ground-based fighters… like Tsarukyan. OAM was outperformed on the feet in those contests, but it’s hard to see Tsarukyan doing so to the extent of OAM’s previous opponents over the course of 15 minutes. A head kick KO from Tsarukyan isn’t out of the question, but OAM has proven to be incredibly durable. Throw in the fact this fight is in Canada and Canada is known for home cooking, I see OAM securing a decision thanks to a large dose of ground control. Aubin-Mercier via decision
Marc-Andre Barriault (11-2) vs. Krzysztof Jotko (20-4), Middleweight
The script on Barriault hasn’t changed a bit after his UFC debut. Known as a hard-hitting slugger who struggles to keep upright, all aspects of that were on display in his loss to Andrew Sanchez. It made for a fun contest as Barriault’s forward movement after Sanchez slowed made for a fun contest, the Canadian coming close to finishing his American counterpart with his heavy ham hocks. Barriault’s gas tank belies his bricked up frame and he’s durable as hell, but he won’t be anything more than an action fighter if he doesn’t add to his ground game or variety to his striking.
Jotko’s own versatility is what allowed him to get back on track after a recent three-fight losing streak. Known for his counter striking on the outside, Jotko resorted to takedowns and GNP against Alen Amadovski. It would be expected that he’ll attempt a similar strategy against Barriault. However, it isn’t like Jotko can’t fight in the clinch or find success on the outside for periods of time before attacking Barriault where he’s weakest. It’s just a matter of ensuring Barriault doesn’t connect cleanly in those instances.
Jotko’s chin really is the question here. His KO loss to Uriah Hall could be excused. However, becoming the first person to be finished by Brad Tavares in over seven years has left many wondering if the Pole’s chin has disappeared. It makes it impossible to discount the possibility of Barriault securing a finish. However, Jotko appears to be aware of his own fragility and will attempt to protect himself accordingly. A decision victory for him seems like the highest probability. Jotko via decision