Cris Cyborg is set to rematch Arlene Blencowe in the main event of Bellator 279 and the featherweight champ believes she has to finish Blencowe.
The two fought in 2020 with Cyborg winning by submission, and given the champ finished the fight early, she says the pressure is on her to do the same again. She’s a massive betting favorite and although many were surprised the rematch is happening now, Cyborg says Blencowe has earned it.
“She’s been beating all the girls,” Cyborg said at media day. “She’s continued to be No. 1 in the division. I just have to be ready, training. For sure, she’s going to be stronger than before. I’m ready. When you get the rematch, you have to prepare for any situation in the fight. I just feel ready and strong to go.”
Since losing to Cyborg in October 2020 she beat Dayna Silva by TKO and Pam Sorenson by decision to earn the rematch. She’s also 5-1 in her last six with the lone loss being to Cris Cyborg, proving she is a legit title contender, but even with that, the featherweight champ says she needs to finish this fight. She got the stoppage in the first fight and she thinks she needs to do it again.
“I think I just have to do my game, focus on what I want to do in the fight, and for sure I have to be careful what my opponent is going to do,” Cyborg said. “I have to be ready for any situation in a fight. … I always have five rounds to finish the fight. You never go into a fight thinking it’s going to finish fast. If it’s fast, it’s lucky. You did your best. But I’m ready to do five rounds and just have patience to see if the opportunity is going to happen. … I think have to finish the fight and I have five rounds to do that.”
Cris Cyborg is undefeated in Bellator since joining the roster in late 2019. She beat Julia Budd by TKO to win the belt and has since submitted Blencowe, TKO’d Leslie Smith and KO’d Sinead Kavanagh.
