Virginia Beach, VA — Canada’s Felicia Spencer is one of a scarce number of women’s featherweights signed to the UFC. However, in a division that barely counts as such, there’s a glimmer of hope. For starters, Spencer is anchoring the co-main event at Saturday’s UFC Norfolk. It’s a spot the ex-Invicta FC featherweight champion earned through a debut win over Megan Anderson, and a stronger-than-expected showing against Cris Cyborg at UFC 240 last summer.
The aforementioned Anderson is also on the card. She faces newcomer Norma Dumont, while Spencer takes on Zarah Fairn. Excluding champ Amanda Nunes (who also holds bantamweight gold), that’s pretty much the entire women’s 145lb weight class in the UFC right there. Which makes this seem like a little bit of an audition for who could step up and challenge ‘The Lioness.’
There’s been no discussion, officially. “Nothing’s been mentioned,” Spencer told media outlets including Cageside Press at the UFC Norfolk media day on Thursday. Later, she added that “it seems like whoever looks the best on Saturday night is going to be probably in line.”
The co-main event placement “definitely was a surprise,” Spencer said. “It was a big surprise when I saw that. It’s kind of just like last time [against Cyborg] — an honor. I’m grateful to have that position. It seems like that means the UFC is kind of pushing me, kind of behind me. That’s a great feeling.”
Despite that push, she’s not feeling any nerves — or at least not letting them get to her. “I don’t really let the nerves like that sink in,” Spencer explained. “It is what it is, I’m going to handle my business regardless of what order the fights are in or who is in front of me.”
Opponent Zarah Fairn is coming into the fight off a loss to Anderson. Which has Spencer thinking that the French fighter is perhaps being overlooked.
“I have a lot of respect for her skills. I know she brings a lot to the table,” Spencer stated Thursday. “I feel like she’s being underestimated a lot. Which I guess is to be expected with how the debut went.”
Fairn was quickly submitted by Anderson in that fight. ‘She only had a couple minutes to show, and it didn’t go her way,” Spencer pointed out. “It makes sense. But I know she has a lot to offer, a lot to bring to the table that I need to be aware of. She’s more known as a striker, but she’s also good on the ground. She has her moments, and I’m ready to just dominate and not let her have her way at all.”
Dominate is the key word. While she doesn’t want to look past her opponent, if this is an audition of sorts, Spencer needs to make a lasting impression. “I want that big statement,” she said. “I want the finish. I want it to be an exciting finish. I think that she’ll be really coming for a win, so I think that’s going to make an exciting first round, and I’m going to find a really fun way to finish it.”
UFC double champs have struggled to defend their titles, but when all is said and done, Spencer feels Nunes will fight at 145lbs again. “I would expect Amanda to still defend it. That’s just from what she’s been saying, it seems like that’s the way it’s going to go. But if there’s a vacant title, I hope I’m in that fight.”
And as to whether she might need to take another fight before getting to that point, “I think it’s possible to get a title shot after Saturday,” she opined. “I guess it depends on how things go, who wins on the other end of the card, and if there are any other featherweights that they’re going to be bringing in. Because otherwise there aren’t that many options.”
Watch the full UFC Norfolk media day press scrum with Felicia Spencer above! The event takes place Saturday, February 29 at the Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.
