Arlene Blencowe has often proved herself one of the top featherweights women fighters currently competing. Unfortunately for her, Cris Cyborg is one of the best to ever compete.
The two met for a second time in the main event of Bellator 279 earlier today, with Blencowe challenging for the featherweight title against Cyborg who has lost just twice in a 15-year career.
Last time around, Cyborg submitted Blencowe in the second round. Blencowe this time, put on a more game and was able to avoid being stopped, however it was another clear victory for Cyborg.
Cyborg managed to drop Blencowe in the first round and it looked like the end was near before an illegal knee to the head of Blencowe forced a point to be deducted and gave the Australian fighter time to recover.
👀 @criscyborg drops @arleneangerfist.#Bellator279 is LIVE on @SHOsports pic.twitter.com/FU2EhCkGuR
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) April 24, 2022
Rounds two and three were fought predominantly standing. Blencowe had success with her right but it was Cyborg who had the volume and bigger shots. By the championship rounds, Blencowe was bruised but wasn’t taking a backward step, despite Blencowe continuing to dominate the exchanges.
All three judges unanimous scored the bout the same, 49-45 to the champ as the two embraced in the cage.
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Blencowe drops her career record to 15-9 while Cyborg moves to 26-2 as she called for bigger fights against Cat Zingano, who competes in Bellator as well or Amanda Nunes & Kayla Harrison, who are signed to the UFC and PFL respectively.
Earlier on the undercard, Janay Harding lost a second consecutive bout as her opponent Dayana Silva took all three rounds to take the unanimous decision victory.
The event took place at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Full Results:
- Cris Cyborg def. Arlene Blencowe via Decision (Unanimous) – Bellator featherweight title
- Raufeon Stots def. Juan Archuleta via TKO (Strikes), Rd 3, 0:16 – Bellator Interim bantamweight title
- Justine Kish def. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane via Decision (Unanimous)
- Patchy Mix def. Kyoji Horiguchi via Decision (Unanimous)
- Yancy Medeiros def. Emmanuel Sanchez via Decision (Unanimous)
- Goiti Yamauchi def. Levan Chokheli via Submission (Armbar), Rd 1, 3:49
- Bobby King def. Keoni Diggs via Decision (Split)
- Dayana Silva def. Janay Harding via Decision (Unanimous)
- Lance Gibson Jr. def. Nainoa Dung via Decision (Unanimous)
- Justin Gonzales def. Kai Kamaka III via Decision (Split)
