Felicia Spencer hopes to jump back into title contention with win at UFC on ESPN+ 27

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Felicia Spencer is ready to challenge for gold once again.

The former Invicta FC featherweight champion returns to action on Saturday night against Zarah Fairn dos Santos in the co-main event of UFC on ESPN+ 27 in Norfolk. Spencer (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) sees the bout as a great opportunity to jump back into title contention and challenge UFC champ-champ Amanda Nunes for her 145-pound title.

“It’s crossed my mind that Amanda could be next,” Spencer told MMA Junkie. “I know she has a lot of pull, so we’ll see what she wants to do and we’ll have to think about that after Saturday. I feel like I’m ready to jump in a big fight again.”

Spencer is focused on her opponent, but she’s also aware of the ramifications UFC Norfolk can have on the UFC’s women’s featherweight division. There are two women’s 145-pound bouts on the card, which is a rare considering lack of depth in the weight class.

With no clear No. 1 featherweight contender — and with Nunes, who also holds the bantamweight title, seeming due to put her 145 belt on the line —Spencer sees the pair of bookings as a good way to determine the next title challenger.

“It seems that way, but no one at the UFC has mentioned anything like that, but I think it’s a cool way to promote the division,” Spencer said. “It makes the card a little more exciting, it’s something a little bit unusual, just the fact that there are two fights in the featherweight division that are on it – and this has never happened before.

“It’s kind of a building division, it shows that they’re putting their best foot forward trying to promote it and make it a little more exciting. I feel like whoever shows up and looks the best on Saturday will probably get that offer.”

Spencer’s last bout was in July at UFC 240. She lost via unanimous decision against former UFC title holder and current Bellator champ Cris Cyborg.

The Canadian fighter carried a lot of motivation from her first professional defeat heading into UFC Norfolk.

“It defitely sucks to lose, but I feel like I draw a lot of personal motivation, a lot of drive, from not executing what I wanted to do in the moments that I should’ve,” Spenser explained. “So it’s definitely been shown in the gym right now, like things are a little bit more intense when I’m in camp. I had a great camp like I always do, but I feel like I was a little bit extra violent in this one, a little ready to win in an exciting way.”