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Felicia Spencer was previously scheduled to face off against reigning 145-pound titleholder, Amanda Nunes, at the upcoming UFC 250 pay-per-view (PPV) event, scheduled for Sat., May 9, 2020 in a city and venue to be determined after COVID-19 turned Sao Paulo’s Ginasio do Ibirapuera into a field hospital.
Unfortunately for the 8-1 “FeeNom,” Nunes opted to put her next title defense on hold, preferably after the coronavirus outbreak is brought under control so that “Lioness” can register a complete fight camp. That could happen as early as June, but the Brazilian has been non-committal on an exact date.
Which leaves Spencer, 29, in limbo.
“I was definitely disappointed because when you get a date you work to be ready,” Spencer told BJPenn.com. “In my head, I was preparing to fight in three weeks. We’ve been jumping through hoops to be ready, doing things on my own. I was ready to get the fight done and go along my way. It was disappointing that it would be extended. It’s also not extended to the point where I can just relax, it’s just a few more weeks, like another month. Maybe I’m six weeks out, maybe I’m seven weeks out, it’s not far enough away that I can pull back. It is going to be an extended camp. I’ll be training for this fight for like 11 weeks now.”
Remember, this fight was announced on March 5, long before quarantine.
“I think it is harder on my body as I had an eight-week fight camp for Norfolk. I then had two weeks off got the fight offer and had another eight-week camp,” Spencer continued. “Now, I’m just going to have to stay in camp and be in it for an undermined amount of time. It may be a 12 or a 15-week camp and that will be harder on my body. I can’t take a break right now because I’ll be fighting in June probably. It’s too late to take a break so it would’ve been nice to know a month ago, so if she had no intention of fighting on May 9, I wish she would’ve said it sooner.”
The promotion has yet to make an official announcement regarding the latest UFC 250 line up (see it here).