The UFC’s flagging women’s featherweight division has some life left in it yet.
As first reported by MMA Fighting, former 145lb title challenger Felicia Spencer is set to take on Leah Letson at a UFC event on November 13. Cageside Press confirmed the booking with a source close to the situation on Wednesday.
Spencer (8-3) started her career a perfect 7-0, a run that saw her claim the Invicta FC featherweight title, then move to the UFC. There, she won her debut against Megan Anderson, which cashed her ticket to a shot at former champ Cris Cyborg at UFC 240. Spencer would go the distance with Cyborg but come up short; a bounce-back win over Megan Anderson, however, saw her booked into a title fight with Amanda Nunes.
For a second time, Spencer would go the distance with one of the fiercest women on the planet, but once again, she would find herself losing a decision.
In May of this year, Spencer returned to the octagon, only to lose a split decision against Norma Dumont.
Leah Letson (5-1) was last seen at The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale in November 2018, where she won a split decision against fellow TUF cast member Julija Stoliarenko. The following year, Letson was booked into a couple of fights, both of which saw her withdraw. There has been no activity from her since; her return in November will be Letson’s first fight three years.
Of late, the UFC’s women’s featherweight division has been on life support, kept around seemingly because of Amanda Nunes’ status as a double champion. But with the prospect of Kayla Harrison hitting the free agent market next year, the promotion might finally be willing to start building the 145lb weight class. A month prior to Spencer vs. Letson, former bantamweight champ Holly Holm will face Norma Dumont at featherweight.
Currently, the promotion’s November 13 event consists of the following bouts:
Max Holloway vs. Yair Rodríguez
Ovince Saint Preux vs. Philipe Lins
Jessica Eye vs. Andrea Lee
Lando Vannata vs. Tucker Lutz
Ben Rothwell vs. Marcos Rogério de Lima
Felicia Spencer vs. Leah Letson
