The current Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg has had an amazing career. She was the featherweight champion in UFC and Invicta FC too, underlining her dominance in the sport of women’s MMA. However, this week, she risks it all again.
Cyborg is fighting Leslie Smith to defend her Bellator featherweight title for the second time at Bellator 259. She has won both of her fights in Bellator and dominantly so. In fact, out of her 23 wins, 18 have come via knockout. Additionally, she has won every fight that has gone the distance.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
However, she does have two losses on her record. While that number looks insignificant in her 23-2 record, it does give one an inkling of what might have been. So, who were the two women who beat one of the scariest women in the history of MMA?
The beginning was almost the end for Cyborg as she was handed her first loss in her professional debut. She was submitted by Erica Paes within 2 minutes of the first round of the fight via a kneebar.
This happened in 2005, and Cyborg went on a relentless run of 20 successive wins after that, winning titles wherever she went.
Her second loss came after 13 years of domination to none other than the lioness herself, Amanda Nunes. This was a much more high-profile fight than her previous ones and determined who the greatest fighter was in Women’s combat sports history.
Cris Cyborg versus Amanda Nunes: The start of a new era
Nunes was on a roll after defending her bantamweight title three times and was on the cusp of glory as she was trying to become the first woman to become a champion in two different weight classes. On the other hand, Cyborg hadn’t lost in 20 fights and was knocking everyone out.
Getty
INGLEWOOD, CA – DECEMBER 29: Amanda Nunes of Brazil celebrates her KO victory over Cris Cyborg of Brazil in their women’s featherweight bout during the UFC 232 event inside The Forum on December 29, 2018, in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
This was a match that wasn’t supposed to last long, and it delivered. Nunes knocked Cyborg out in 51 seconds and won the featherweight championship. It sparked incredible celebrations for the Brazilian, and she is yet to lose a fight.
Meanwhile, Cyborg fought once more in the UFC but then moved to Bellator. Her fight against Leslie Smith will be one of the best fights Bellator has put out in a while.
The fans should expect to see a standup battle between two knockout artists. No matter what happens, the fight is not going the distance.
Do you think anyone can beat Cris Cyborg in Bellator?
Read More: All You Need to Know About Amanda Nunes and Her Wife, Nina Ansaroff
