LAS VEGAS – Leah Letson thinks she’ll show to be a “completely different fighter” when she returns to the octagon from a nearly three-year layoff on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 197.
After joining the UFC roster from Season 28 of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series, Letson (5-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has been sidelined with a bevy of health issues, including hypothyroidism, which prevented her from competing and even training, really.
Letson, 29, said she followed the directives of her doctors and incrementally worked her way back into fighting shape for the first time since November 2018. Now she’s back and is set to meet Felicia Spencer (8-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC) in a women’s featherweight matchup on the upcoming card at the UFC Apex, which streams on ESPN+.
“It’s surreal,” Letson told MMA Junkie of her return at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 197 media day. “I’m so excited to be here. I’ve been waiting literally three years to come back here, and I can’t tell you how amazing it is to be here. I’m so excited. There were a couple times I questioned whether or not I was going to be to come back. But I’m passionate about the sport. I had to make it happen.”
Letson is wasting no time getting her footing after such a long hiatus. UFC matchmakers pitted her against Spencer, who is a former title challenger and has shared the octagon with the best at 145 pounds during her tenure.
Although Spencer had the advantage of activity, Letson said she has the advantage of the unknown. Letson said she’s changed training camps, coaches and her mental approach toward the sport during this long stint between fights, and she looks forward to finding out where she stands against someone of Spencer’s caliber.
“It didn’t take me long to accept it,” Letson said. “She’s really tough. I was actually really honored they were ready to throw me in there with one of the toughest fighters out there. She went the distance with (Cris) Cyborg and (Amanda) Nunes, and there’s no better opponent to test my skills against.”
Leah Letson ‘honored’ to be thrown in deep end with Felicia Spencer after nearly 3-year layoff
