Steven Marrocco

MMA Junkie

Former UFC champ Cris Cyborg rebounded from a brutal knockout to close her contract on a win. But ex-Invicta champ Felicia Spencer accomplished her goal of making her opponent look human.

Cyborg (21-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) went the distance and secured a unanimous decision victory against a tough Spencer, who absorbed her early fury and survived in deep waters.

The women’s featherweight bout served as the UFC 240 co-main event Saturday at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

The final scorecards were all 30-27 for Cyborg in a fight that was more competitive than the tally issued by judges. Spencer gave the former champ all she could handle, opening a cut with an elbow that bled throughout the fight.

Cyborg leaped on the cage and celebrated before giving UFC commentator Joe Rogan a post-fight interview. She welcomed a rematch with Amanda Nunes, who became the first fighter to knock her out and claimed the featherweight belt she’d previously held with an iron grip.

"I’m going to let the UFC talk to my manager, but I just wanted to get this victory," Cyborg said. "I asked for a rematch after the fight."

UFC president Dana White claimed the opposite in a relationship that’s see-sawed between cooperation and hostility. But Cyborg’s final flurry against a tough Spencer showed her championship spirit.

At times, Cyborg appeared to be faltering against a challenger that was as tough as billed. She appeared exhausted midway through the fight as Spencer smothered her against the cage and refused to allow space for striking. The up-and-comer was unable to put her opponent on the mat. But she was confident enough in her ability to hang with the ex-champ that she pulled guard and dodged punches from her back.

Cyborg eventually found her second wind and reasserted total control, landing flurries of punches and kicks in the third round to hand Spencer her first pro loss.

"Thanks to Felicia, I have my first cut," Cyborg said. "I just wanted to come back to the cage and do my job."

Closing out a win, Cyborg picks up some much-needed leverage as she negotiates the next step of her decorated career. Nunes has said she’s open to a rematch.

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