Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images
Felicia Spencer burst onto the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) scene several months ago, submitting Megan Anderson at UFC Fight Night 152 via first round rear-naked choke (see it again here), which secured her a huge showdown against Cris Cyborg. Indeed, the undefeated (7-0, 1-0 UFC) “Feenom” is set to challenge the former women’s Featherweight title holder in the co-main event of UFC 240, set to go down this Saturday (July 27, 2019) in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. And even though she specifically called for the fight, Spencer admits she was surprised that UFC – as well as Cyborg – agreed to actually book it.
“I definitely was not expecting that to happen so quickly, but at the same time, after my win what else was left in the division? I knew coming into UFC that my division is developing and I was going to be put in the forefront of the division,” Spencer told MMAmania, while saying it’s all part of her plan of becoming the new face of the division.
“I was kind of expecting something big like this, but I didn’t expect it back-to-back and to be fighting so quickly. But, Cyborg was very vocal about fighting me, and so in hindsight I’m glad to have a fight soon with back-to-back camps, confident and ready to become the new face of the division.”
Despite Cyborg suffering a brutal and lightning-quick knockout loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 232 (her first MMA loss in 13 years), Spencer — the former Invicta FC 145-pound champion — says her gameplan and mindset doesn’t change one bit going into the fight. Indeed, Cyborg — though proven to be beatable — is still super dangerous.
“No, it’s the same. I’ve always known she’s beatable, everyone is, I know I’m beatable. It hasn’t happened in a long time, but that is what keeps me on my toes. I’m more fully aware that anyone can beat me and I can beat anyone.”
With UFC President Dana White constantly talking about booking Nunes vs Cyborg 2, it might seem many are already counting out Spencer. And that’s fine for “The Feenom,” as all it does is give her added fuel and motivation to shock the world.
“It doesn’t affect me. I see it and I am aware of it and it is what it is,” she explained. “I know most people don’t know Felicia Spencer. And from the outside perspective, why wouldn’t people expect Cyborg to win as per usual? So, I completely understand it, I am aware people look past me, but I don’t dwell on it or get mad it. It’s just more of an opportunity to turn heads when I shock people when I do come out with the win.”
With a win, Spencer says a title shot against Nunes should be a foregone conclusion. And even though that carrot is dangling in front of her, it doesn’t distract her from the task at hand this weekend.
“It’s not distracting, but it is definitely something that’s come up and you think about here and there because it makes sense. I mean, what else is next? The belt is next,” she said. “But, it’s an exciting thought. Obviously, the typical answer is, ‘I never look past anyone,’ but obviously the next step is a title shot and getting it. One step at a time, but it’s part of the grand plan.”
Despite rising up the Featherweight ladder, Spencer doesn’t envision herself ever stopping her full-time gig, as she intends to keep on with her Algebra teaching duties. Of course, should her fighting career require her to fight more often, then it could change things.
“I am a virtual school teacher. It is full-time, though people say, ‘Oh, you work from a computer.’ I teach Algebra in the summer and it’s definitely one of our busiest times, crazy time of the year. But, it’s great because I like being busy and navigating things,” she added.
“Ideally, the dream would be to focus on fighting and keep teaching; I also teach the kids program at my gym and I am not there as often as I used to be. So, it would be nice to kind of reinvigorate my involvement there and do more around the community. I really like to be involved in being around and making a difference in peoples’ lives.”
With three straight submission wins under her belt – all via rear-naked choke – Spencer says people will be in for a shock if they think she is just a one-trick pony.
“I definitely didn’t plan to be known as the, ‘rear-naked choke girl,’ but when it presents itself, I am a black belt in jiu-jitsu for a reason,” she said. “At the same time, I am very comfortable on my feet and I am kind of glad that a lot of my performances to date haven’t really shown the best of my ability. And that is fine because then there are a little bit of new things I can hopefully show.”