Cris Cyborg remains the women’s featherweight champion of Bellator. Over the course of 25 minutes, Cyborg outlasted a very durable Arlene Blencowe at Bellator 279 in Honolulu, Hawaii, but there were moments of tension as well.
The very first round was very much like their 2020 clash, which Cyborg won with a rear-naked choke in the second round. Once Cyborg brought Blencowe to her knees, she took the challenger down and attempted to choke her once more. Cyborg’s only career submission victory came in the first fight.
Cyborg made a tactical error that helped Blencowe, with Cyborg kneeing Blencowe in the head while she was down. This resulted in a point deduction for Cyborg and somewhat blunted her dominant start.
Despite having a bloody mask on her face at that point, Blencowe insisted on fighting Cyborg, exchanging combos and refusing to back down during the championship rounds. Blencowe was clearly overmatched against Cyborg, however, she did a great job and became the first person inside the Bellator cage to survive five rounds with Cris Cyborg. At the end of the bout, Cyborg won via unanimous decision and defended her featherweight title for the fourth time.
Cyborg credited Blencowe for her toughness after the fight, then said her ambition is to fight the most formidable fighters, including Cat Zingano, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harrison.
Results: Cris Cyborg def. Arlene Blencowe by unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-45
Watch the highlights below:
👀 @criscyborg drops @arleneangerfist.#Bellator279 is LIVE on @SHOsports pic.twitter.com/FU2EhCkGuR
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) April 24, 2022
🔥 @criscyborg is relentless against @arleneangerfist.#Bellator279 is LIVE on @SHOsports pic.twitter.com/7WxrdK50AH
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) April 24, 2022
☎️ A phone booth kind of fight.#Bellator279 is LIVE on @SHOsports pic.twitter.com/90aTvqhuzW
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) April 24, 2022
👀 @criscyborg taking @arleneangerfist to suplex city! 🌆#Bellator279 is LIVE on @SHOsports pic.twitter.com/kwM3D7fgB1
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) April 24, 2022
This fight between @criscyborg and @arleneangerfist has it all! 🌶#Bellator279 is LIVE on @SHOsports pic.twitter.com/Plp9Y3huPA
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) April 24, 2022
That fight was amazing! 👏
What a show from @criscyborg and @arleneangerfist.#Bellator279 is LIVE on @SHOsports. pic.twitter.com/wrRSQD1kJb
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) April 24, 2022
AND STILL
Cris Cyborg wins by unanimous decision to retain her featherweight championship!@BellatorMMA #Bellator279 pic.twitter.com/HNbm3xvwBM
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) April 24, 2022
Nothing but respect 👏👏👏👏
Give it up for @criscyborg and @arleneangerfist. WHAT A FIGHT. #Bellator279 pic.twitter.com/lrRArVimMA
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) April 24, 2022
