Felicia Spencer

Felicia Spencer
Born	Felicia Dawn Spencer[1] (1990-11-20) November 20, 1990 (age 34) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Other names	Feenom
Height	5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Weight	145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb)
Division	Featherweight (145 lb) Lightweight (155 lb)
Reach	68 in (173 cm)[2]
Style	BJJ, Kickboxing, Taekwondo
Fighting out of	Orlando, Florida, United States[3]
Team	Jungle MMA
Trainer	Mike Lee - Head Coach[3]
Rank	Black belt in Taekwondo[4] Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[4][5]
Years active	2012–2021
Mixed martial arts record
Total	12
Wins	9
By knockout	3
By submission	4
By decision	2
Losses	3
By decision	3
Other information
Occupation	Mixed Martial Artist, High School math teacher at Florida Virtual School[5]
University	University of Central Florida[5]
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Felicia Dawn Spencer[1] (born November 20, 1990) is a retired Canadian mixed martial artist. She is the former Invicta FC Featherweight champion and formally competed in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.[6]

Background

Spencer was born in Montreal, Quebec, and she moved to Englewood, Florida, with her family as a child, where she later graduated from Lemon Bay High School.[7] Joining her older brothers, Spencer started training in Taekwondo at the age of four.[8] At twelve years old, she started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and added kickboxing to her training five years later.[9] 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.[8]

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",[10] amassing a record of 5–1, Invicta FC signed her in 2015.[11]

Invicta Fighting Championships

Spencer made her promotional debut on September 12, 2015, at Invicta FC 14: Evinger vs. Kianzad against Rachel Wiley.[10] She won the fight via a technical knock out in round one.[12]

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[13] and she won the fight via unanimous decision with the scoreboard of (30–27, 30–27, and 29–28).[14]

On July 15, 2017, Spencer faced Amy Coleman at Invicta FC 24: Dudieva vs. Borella.[15] She won the fight via a rear-naked choke in round one.[16] The submission earned her the Performance of the Night bonus.[17]

Spencer faced Akeel Al-Hameed on January 13, 2018, at Invicta FC 27: Kaufman vs. Kianzad.[18] She won the fight via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, and 30–27).[19] The bout earned both fighters the Fight of the Night bonus.[20]

Spencer faced Helena Kolesnyk on July 21, 2018, at Invicta FC 30: Frey vs. Grusander.[21] She won the fight via a rear-naked choke.[22] The submission earned her the Performance of the Night bonus.[23]

Spencer faced Pam Sorenson on November 16, 2018, at Invicta FC 32: Spencer vs. Sorenson for the vacant Invicta Featherweight title.[24] She won the fight via a rear-naked choke in round four.[25]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Spencer signed with the UFC in March 2019 after compiling an undefeated record of 6–0 competing in Invicta FC.[6]

Spencer made her promotional debut on May 18, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee against Megan Anderson.[26] Spencer won the fight in the first round by rear naked choke.[27]

Spencer faced Cris Cyborg in the co-main event on July 27, 2019, at UFC 240.[28] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[29]

Spencer faced Zarah Fairn on February 29, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 169.[30] She would go on to win the fight via TKO in the first round.[31]

Spencer was expected to face current champion Amanda Nunes on May 9, 2020, at UFC 250.[32] However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed[33] and the bout eventually took place on June 6, 2020, at UFC 250.[34] She lost the bout via unanimous decision.[35]

Spencer was scheduled to face Danyelle Wolf on May 22, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 188.[36] However, Wolf pulled out of the fight in early May due to an undisclosed injury and was replaced by Norma Dumont.[37] Spencer lost the bout via split decision.[38]

Spencer faced Leah Letson on November 13, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 197.[39] She won the fight via technical knockout in round three.[40]

On December 2, 2021, Spencer announced her retirement from professional MMA competition.[41]

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.[5]

Championships and accomplishments

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • Tied (Megan Anderson & Norma Dumont) for most bouts in UFC Women's Featherweight division history (6)[42]
  • Tied (Megan Anderson) for most finishes in UFC Women's Featherweight division history (3)[42]
  • Tied (Cris Cyborg and Megan Anderson) for most knockouts in UFC Women's Featherweight division history (2)[42]
  • Tied for most submission wins in UFC Women's Featherweight division history (1)[42]
  • Second most total fight time in UFC Women's Featherweight division history (1:16:26)
• Invicta Fighting Championships
  • Invicta FC Featherweight Championship (one time; former)
  • Performance of the Night (two times) vs. Amy Coleman and Helena Kolesnyk[17][23]
  • Fight of the Night (one time) vs. Akeela Al-Hameed[20]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown

12 matches	9 wins	3 losses
By knockout	3	0
By submission	4	0
By decision	2	3

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Win	9–3	Leah Letson	TKO (punches)	UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodríguez	November 13, 2021	3	4:25	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss	8–3	Norma Dumont	Decision (split)	UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt	May 22, 2021	3	5:00	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
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	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.

[43]

Pay-per-view bouts

No.	Event	Fight	Date	Venue	City	PPV buys
1.	UFC 250	Nunes vs. Spencer	June 6, 2020	UFC Apex	Enterprise, Nevada, United States	85,000[44]

See also

• List of female mixed martial artists
• List of Canadian UFC fighters

References

1. Mixed martial arts show results Date: June 6, 2020
2. "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
3. "Felicia Spencer". Tapology. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
4. Shawn Bitter (March 17, 2019). "Welcome to the UFC: Felicia Spencer". Cageside Press.
5. Ruiz, Stephen. "Winter Park woman awaits first pro MMA fight". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
6. Riggs, Drake (2019-03-10). "Invicta FC featherweight champion Felicia Spencer signed by the UFC". The Body Lock. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
7. "Englewood native Spencer gets second UFC fight". Charlotte Sun. Adams Publishing Group. 2019-07-13. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
8. "Invicta FC 14's Felicia Spencer: Ready For Anything in Pro Debut". Combat Press. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
9. "Felicia Spencer talks Invicta return, Nunes VS Rousey, 155lb division, training at Jungle MMA, career beginnings and lots more". WMMA Rankings. 2016-12-24. Archived from the original on 2017-07-10. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
10. "Felicia Spencer welcomes challenge of fighting in hostile territory". AXS. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
11. Sherdog.com. "Felicia". Sherdog. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
12. "PIC: Lightweight Rachel Wiley has an entirely different forehead after Saturday night Invicta defeat". SportsJOE.ie. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
13. "Felicia Spencer VS Madison McElhaney set for Invicta FC 22". WMMA Rankings. 2017-03-02. Archived from the original on 2020-08-21. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
14. "Invicta Results: Felicia Spencer Takes Out Madison McElhaney". MMA Imports. 26 March 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
15. "Felicia Spencer 'Confident in Every Area' Against Amy Coleman at Invicta FC 24". MMAWeekly.com. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
16. "Wrestle World - Invicta FC 24 official results". www.pro-wrestling.com. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
17. Tim Peterson [@TimWMMAToday] (July 16, 2017). "Invicta FC 24 Bonuses: FOTN - @SunnaTsunami vs @KellyADAngelo POTN - @FeeNom479 and @Kari_Rod8" (Tweet). Retrieved April 28, 2022 – via Twitter.
18. "Undefeated featherweight prospect Felicia Spencer to fight at Invicta FC 27". AXS. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
19. "Invicta Fighting Championships 27 Results". Fightful MMA. Retrieved 2018-07-24.
20. Invicta Fighting Championships [@InvictaFights] (January 14, 2018). "#InvictaFC27 FOTN Bonuses: Sharon Jacobson and Ashley Nichols, Felicia Spencer and Akeela Al-Hameed" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
21. "Invicta FC 30's Felicia Spencer says co-main slot is a dream come true". Bloody Elbow. Archived from the original on 2018-07-25. Retrieved 2018-07-24.
22. "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.
23. Jay Pettry (July 22, 2018). "Fight Facts: Invicta FC 30". Sherdog.
24. "Felicia Spencer vs. Pam Sorenson for vacant featherweight belt headlines Invicta FC 32". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
25. "Invicta FC 32 results: Felicia Spencer claims vacant title with gutsy win over Pam Sorenson". MMAjunkie. 2018-11-17. Retrieved 2018-11-17.
26. "Ex-Invicta FC champs Megan Anderson, Felicia Spencer meet at UFC on ESPN+ 9". MMA Junkie. 2019-03-26. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
27. Bitter, Shawn (2019-05-18). "UFC Rochester Results: Felicia Spencer Upsets Megan Anderson with Quick Submission". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
28. 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.
29. Evanoff, Josh (2019-07-28). "UFC 240 Results: Cris Cyborg defeats tough Felicia Spencer". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
30. Marcel Dorff (18 December 2019). "Felicia Spencer treft Zarah Fairn Dos Santos tijdens UFC Norfolk" (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-01-21.
31. Fuentes, Jon (2020-02-29). "UFC Norfolk Results: Felicia Spencer Beats Down Zarah Fairn". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
32. Brett Okamoto (2020-03-05). "Amanda Nunes to defend featherweight title against Felicia Spencer at UFC 250". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
33. Brett Okamoto (2020-04-09). "Dana White says UFC 249 will not happen April 18". espn.com. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
34. Marcel Dorff (5 May 2020). "Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer opnieuw ingepland voor Featherweight titel tijdens UFC 250" (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-01-21.
35. 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.
36. Marcel Dorff (2021-02-22). "Felicia Spencer treft drievoudig US National Boxing kampioene Danyelle Wolf op 22 mei". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-01-21.
37. Marcel Dorff (2021-05-06). "Norma Dumont pakt short notice partij tegen Felicia Spencer op 22 mei in Las Vegas". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-01-21.
38. Anderson, Jay (2021-05-22). "UFC Vegas 27 Results: Felicia Spencer Falls to Norma Dumont in Split Decision". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-05-23.
39. Dorff, Marcel (2021-09-01). "Voormalig titeluitdaagster Felicia Spencer treft Leah Letson op 13 november in Las Vegas". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-09-01.
40. Anderson, Jay (2021-11-13). "UFC Vegas 42: Felicia Spencer Dominates Returning Leah Letson". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
41. "Former UFC title contender Felicia Spencer announces retirement". www.mmafighting.com. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
42. Mike Bohn (November 14, 2021). "UFC Fight Night 197 post-event facts: Max Holloway first to crack 3,000 total UFC strikes landed". MMAjunkie.com.
43. Sherdog.com. "Felicia". Sherdog. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
44. "UFC 250: Nunes vs. Spencer | MMA Event". Tapology. Retrieved 2022-09-08.

External links

• Felicia Spencer at UFC
• Professional MMA record for Felicia Spencer from Sherdog

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Megan Anderson	3rd Invicta FC Featherweight Champion November 16, 2018 – March 26, 2019	Succeeded by Pam Sorenson