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INGLEWOOD, CA – JANUARY 25: Cris Cyborg (blue gloves) in the cage after defeating Julia Budd in their featherweight world title fight at The Forum on January 25, 2020 in Inglewood, California. Cyborg won by TKO in the 4th round. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
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INGLEWOOD, CA – JANUARY 25: Cris Cyborg (blue gloves) in the cage after defeating Julia Budd in their featherweight world title fight at The Forum on January 25, 2020 in Inglewood, California. Cyborg won by TKO in the 4th round. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Bellator MMA has a fantastic fight coming up for MMA fans. Bellator 259 pay-per-view being headlined by a women’s featherweight title fight between Leslie Smith and the champion, Cris Cyborg. This will be their second fight after Cyborg decimated Smith in the first round when they first met.
Cyborg spoke with MMAFighting.com to talk about this event and said that her mindset was different now. She exclaimed that both she and her opponent Smith had grown as fighters from their last fight and that this will be a different fight.
.@CrisCyborg says fans can expect "a lot of violence" against Leslie Smith at #Bellator259:
"She's a tough girl… You guys should get excited to watch this fight.”
Watch full interview: https://t.co/eBxuMvAgWW pic.twitter.com/qsMwNo0ohA
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) May 20, 2021
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The interviewer, Mike Heck, asked Cyborg how she can be better in this fight after her unstoppable victory in their last fight. Cyborg said that she believes that she has more time to find a finish this time around. “I feel like in my mind I have five rounds to finish the fight,” she said.
“I know it’s my division, but the last time I was cutting weight, I didn’t know if I could handle all the rounds. So, it’s (a) different mindset for the fight. Now I know I have five rounds to finish the fight,” she added. Cyborg has had a history of weight cutting issues in the past and will try her best not to let it be a factor this time around.
However, she hasn’t ruled out a quick finish either. “The first thing I think is (a) different mindset, but if you finish it fast, it’s going to be perfect too. I’m ready for all five rounds,” she concluded. This is Cyborg’s second title defense after she won the title against Julia Budd in her first match for the organization.
Cris Cyborg vs. Leslie Smith 1: A perfect performance
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Cyborg’s first match against Smith happened at UFC 198. It was her debut fight with the UFC, and she came out all guns blazing. In the second minute of the first round, the fight was over after she finished Smith with punches on the ground.
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CURITIBA, BRAZIL – MAY 14: (L-R) Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino of Brazil celebrates after defeating Leslie Smith in their women’s catchweight bout during the UFC 198 event at Arena da Baixada stadium on May 14, 2016, in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Leslie Smith has definitely gotten better since then and has more to show than that torrid display. The fans will expect a good striking battle to ensue between the two of them and see one fighter come out on top. It will be an amazing match.
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Do you think Leslie Smith can beat Cris Cyborg?
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