After a thrilling women’s featherweight co-main event between Cris Cyborg and Felicia Spencer at UFC 240, Dana White has confirmed the promotion is committed to the division.
Edmonton, AB — Another big night come and gone for the UFC. Plenty of questions left over for promotion president Dana White, however. UFC 240 saw Max Holloway retain his featherweight title against Frankie Edgar. In the co-main event, Cris Cyborg earned a decision win against Felicia Spencer — but the fight was not what many expected.
There was no steamrolling of Spencer by the always fearsome Cyborg. The Canadian cut open the former champ early, worked in some nasty elbows, and controlled at points. She also proved to have a granite chin, eating some power punches from the Brazilian.
Asked by Cageside Press about Spencer’s performance, White had nothing but good things to say about ‘The Feenom.’ “Imagine when this woman feels like this is really her house, or the UFC is her house,” he said. “It was her first fight against Cyborg, in Canada. When she gets a real solid strength and conditioning program — the girl’s only had seven fights coming in here tonight, and you saw her chin, her heart, her determination, her elbows. Impressive.”
White also felt that the build-up pre fight may have played a role. “Especially who she was facing. I guarantee it, she had a massive adrenaline dump before she even walked out to the octagon. I think she’s pretty special actually.”
There’s not a lot of competetion for female featherweights in the UFC right now. However, that may change. White, asked by Cageside Press if fans would see more commitment to women’s 145 moving forward, said yes.
“Yeah. Amanda Nunes is the greatest female fighter ever, and she’s the 145lb and 35lb champion,” White answered. “And she wants to defend both. So the answer is yes.”
Earlier in the night, victorious Brazilian flyweight Deiveson Figueiredo had called for an interim flyweight title fight with Joseph Benavidez. It’s been widely rumored that a flyweight fight for double-champ Henry Cejudo might be next, and Benavidez seems to be the name in question. Asked if Cejudo-Benavidez was the plan, White answered in the positive.
“Yeah, I think so. Yeah. We got to get back to work on that and figure that whole thing out.” Sorry, Deiveson, but it looks like the interim title plan is out.
Watch the full UFC 240 post-fight press scrum with UFC President Dana White above.
