Felicia Spencer
Felicia Dawn Spencer (born November 20, 1990)[4] is a Canadian mixed martial artist. She is the former Invicta FC Featherweight champion and currently competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.[5]
Felicia Spencer | |
---|---|
Born | Felicia Dawn Spencer November 20, 1990 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
Other names | Feenom |
Nationality | Canadian |
Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
Division | Featherweight (145 lb) Lightweight (155 lb) |
Style | BJJ, Kickboxing, Taekwondo |
Fighting out of | Orlando, Florida, United States[1] |
Team | Jungle MMA |
Trainer | Mike Lee - Head Coach[1] |
Rank | Black belt in Taekwondo[2] Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[2][3] |
Years active | 2012–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 10 |
Wins | 8 |
By knockout | 2 |
By submission | 4 |
By decision | 2 |
Losses | 2 |
By decision | 2 |
Occupation | Mixed Martial Artist, High School math teacher at Florida Virtual School [3] |
University | University of Central Florida[3] |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Background
Spencer was born in Montreal, Quebec. Joining her older brothers, Spencer started training in Taekwondo at the age of four.[6] At twelve years old, she started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and added kickboxing to her training five years later.[7] She transitioned to train in MMA when she joined Jungle MMA in 2009, when she moved to Orlando to attend the University of Central Florida.[6]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Spencer started her amateur career in 2012. After winning the first "Tuff-N-Uff Future Stars of MMA" tournament where she submitted Leanne Foster and knocked out Jessica Eve Richer at the second "Tuff-N-Uff Xtreme", [8] amassing a record of 5–1, Invicta FC signed her in 2015.[9]
Invicta Fighting Championships
Spencer made her promotional debut on September 12, 2015 at Invicta FC 14: Evinger vs. Kianzad against Rachel Wiley.[8] She won the fight via a technical knock out in round one.[10]
Her next fight came over eighteen months later on March 25, 2017 at Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya 2. She faced Madison McElhaney in a Featherweight bout[11] and she won the fight via unanimous decision with the scoreboard of (30–27, 30–27, and 29–28).[12]
On July 15, 2017 Spencer faced Amy Coleman at Invicta FC 24: Dudieva vs. Borella.[13] She won the fight via a rear-naked choke in round one.[14]
Spencer faced Akeel Al-Hameed on January 13, 2018 at Invicta FC 27: Kaufman vs. Kianzad.[15] She won the fight via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, and 30–27).[16]
Spencer faced Helena Kolesnyk on July 21, 2018 at Invicta FC 30: Frey vs. Grusander.[17] She won the fight via a rear-naked choke.[18]
Spencer faced Pam Sorenson on November 16, 2018 at Invicta FC 32: Spencer vs. Sorenson for the vacant Invicta Featherweight title.[19] She won the fight via a rear-naked choke in round four.[20]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Spencer signed with the UFC in March 2019 after compiling an undefeated record of 6–0 competing in Invicta FC.[21]
Spencer made her promotional debut on May 18, 2019 at UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee against Megan Anderson.[22] Spencer won the fight in the first round by rear naked choke.[23]
Spencer faced Cris Cyborg in the co-main event on July 27, 2019 at UFC 240.[24] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[25]
Spencer faced Zarah Fairn Dos Santos on February 29, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 169.[26] She would go on to win the fight via TKO in the first round.[27]
Spencer was expected to face current champion Amanda Nunes on May 9, 2020 at UFC 250.[28] However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed[29] and the bout eventually took place on June 6, 2020 at UFC 250.[30] She lost the bout via unanimous decision.[31]
Personal life
Spencer graduated at Lemon Bay High School before going on to earn a degree from University of Central Florida. She works as a sixth grade algebra teacher at Florida Virtual School.[3]
Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown | ||
10 matches | 8 wins | 2 losses |
By knockout | 2 | 0 |
By submission | 4 | 0 |
By decision | 2 | 2 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 8–2 | Amanda Nunes | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 250 | June 6, 2020 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | For the UFC Women's Featherweight Championship. |
Win | 8–1 | Zarah Fairn Dos Santos | TKO (punches and elbows) | UFC Fight Night: Benavidez vs. Figueiredo | February 29, 2020 | 1 | 3:37 | Norfolk, Virginia, United States | |
Loss | 7–1 | Cris Cyborg | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 240 | July 27, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | |
Win | 7–0 | Megan Anderson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee | May 18, 2019 | 1 | 3:24 | Rochester, New York, United States | |
Win | 6–0 | Pam Sorenson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Invicta FC 32: Spencer vs. Sorenson | November 16, 2018 | 4 | 4:23 | Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States | Won the vacant Invicta FC Featherweight Championship. |
Win | 5–0 | Helena Kolesnyk | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Invicta FC 30: Frey vs. Grusander | July 21, 2018 | 2 | 1:47 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Performance of the Night. |
Win | 4–0 | Akeela Al-Hameed | Decision (unanimous) | Invicta FC 27: Kaufman vs. Kianzad | January 13, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Fight of the Night. |
Win | 3–0 | Amy Coleman | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Invicta FC 24: Dudieva vs. Borella | July 15, 2017 | 1 | 3:17 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Performance of the Night. |
Win | 2–0 | Madison McElhaney | Decision (unanimous) | Invicta FC 22: Evinger vs. Kunitskaya II | March 25, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Featherweight debut. |
Win | 1–0 | Rachel Wiley | TKO (elbows and punches) | Invicta FC 14: Evinger vs. Kianzad | September 12, 2015 | 1 | 3:32 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Lightweight debut. |
See also
References
- "Felicia Spencer". Tapology. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
- Shawn Bitter (March 17, 2019). "Welcome to the UFC: Felicia Spencer". Cageside Press.
- Ruiz, Stephen. "Winter Park woman awaits first pro MMA fight". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
- Mixed martial arts show results Date: June 6, 2020
- Riggs, Drake (2019-03-10). "Invicta FC featherweight champion Felicia Spencer signed by the UFC". The Body Lock. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
- "Invicta FC 14's Felicia Spencer: Ready For Anything in Pro Debut". Combat Press. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
- "Felicia Spencer talks Invicta return, Nunes VS Rousey, 155lb division, training at Jungle MMA, career beginnings and lots more". WMMA Rankings. 2016-12-24. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
- "Felicia Spencer welcomes challenge of fighting in hostile territory". AXS. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
- Sherdog.com. "Felicia". Sherdog. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
- "PIC: Lightweight Rachel Wiley has an entirely different forehead after Saturday night Invicta defeat". SportsJOE.ie. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
- "Felicia Spencer VS Madison McElhaney set for Invicta FC 22". WMMA Rankings. 2017-03-02. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
- "Invicta Results: Felicia Spencer Takes Out Madison McElhaney". MMA Imports. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
- "Felicia Spencer 'Confident in Every Area' Against Amy Coleman at Invicta FC 24". MMAWeekly.com. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
- "Wrestle World - Invicta FC 24 official results". www.pro-wrestling.com. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
- "Undefeated featherweight prospect Felicia Spencer to fight at Invicta FC 27". AXS. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
- "Invicta Fighting Championships 27 Results". Fightful MMA. Retrieved 2018-07-24.
- "Invicta FC 30's Felicia Spencer says co-main slot is a dream come true". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2018-07-24.
- "Invicta FC 30 results: Jinh Yu Frey rallies to claim vacant atomweight title over stunned Minna Grusander". MMAjunkie. 2018-07-22. Retrieved 2018-07-24.
- "Felicia Spencer vs. Pam Sorenson for vacant featherweight belt headlines Invicta FC 32". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
- "Invicta FC 32 results: Felicia Spencer claims vacant title with gutsy win over Pam Sorenson". MMAjunkie. 2018-11-17. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
- Riggs, Drake (2019-03-10). "Invicta FC featherweight champion Felicia Spencer signed by the UFC". The Body Lock. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
- "Ex-Invicta FC champs Megan Anderson, Felicia Spencer meet at UFC on ESPN+ 9". MMA Junkie. 2019-03-26. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
- Bitter, Shawn (2019-05-18). "UFC Rochester Results: Felicia Spencer Upsets Megan Anderson with Quick Submission". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
- Adam Guillen Jr. (2019-05-29). "Cris Cyborg vs Felicia Spencer set as UFC 240 co-main event on July 27 in Edmonton". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
- Evanoff, Josh (2019-07-28). "UFC 240 Results: Cris Cyborg defeats tough Felicia Spencer". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
- DNA, MMA. "Felicia Spencer treft Zarah Fairn Dos Santos tijdens UFC Norfolk". Retrieved 2019-12-18.
- Fuentes, Jon (2020-02-29). "UFC Norfolk Results: Felicia Spencer Beats Down Zarah Fairn". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
- Brett Okamoto (2020-03-05). "Amanda Nunes to defend featherweight title against Felicia Spencer at UFC 250". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
- Brett Okamoto (2020-04-09). "Dana White says UFC 249 will not happen April 18". espn.com. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
- DNA, MMA. "Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer opnieuw ingepland voor Featherweight titel tijdens UFC 250". Retrieved 2020-05-07.
- Damon Martin (June 6, 2020). "Amanda Nunes completely dominates Felicia Spencer in lopsided decision to defend title at UFC 250". MMAFighting.com. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- Sherdog.com. "Felicia". Sherdog. Retrieved 2020-06-07.