Amanda Nunes overpowers Felicia Spencer to defend UFC featherweight title

Amanda Nunes continues to have no real peer in women’s mixed martial arts.

Nunes dominated Felicia Spencer for a unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-45) victory Saturday night in the main event of UFC 250 in Las Vegas. Spencer was challenging for Nunes’ UFC women’s featherweight title.

In every aspect of MMA, Nunes had complete control in what was a flawless performance. By the end, Spencer was pouring blood from her face and was wearing significant swelling on her forehead from numerous Nunes punches and elbows. Yet she was still able to hang in for all five rounds.

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The card took place in front of no fans at the UFC Apex, across the street from the UFC’s corporate campus.

With the victory, Nunes becomes the first fighter in UFC history to have defended two titles in two weight classes while still holding them both. Nunes is one of seven UFC fighters in history to be a double champ.

ESPN has Nunes ranked as the top pound-for-pound women’s MMA fighter in the world. She’s also considered the best female MMA fighter of all time. Nunes has beaten every fighter who has ever held either the UFC women’s bantamweight title or the UFC women’s featherweight title. Spencer came in as the UFC’s top contender at women’s featherweight.

On Saturday night, Nunes came closest to finishing near the end of the fourth round. Nunes rocked Spencer with an uppercut. She then landed two big punching combinations, took Spencer’s back on the ground and looked to cinch in a rear-naked choke. But Spencer somehow survived and made it to the bell.

Nunes has the most wins in UFC history among women (13) and the most wins in UFC title fights among women (8). She has beaten the likes of former and current champions Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm, Cris Cyborg, Miesha Tate and Valentina Shevchenko.

Nunes (20-4) has won 11 straight, which is tied for second-best active UFC winning streaks with welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. The Brazil native, who lives and trains in South Florida, has defended the bantamweight title five times and now the featherweight belt once. Nunes, 32, has not lost since 2014.

Spencer (8-2) had only one career loss coming in, to Cyborg last year. The 29-year-old Canadian, who lives and trains in Florida, is the former Invicta FC women’s featherweight champion.