Cris Cyborg remains Bellator women’s featherweight champion after going the distance in bloody battle with Arlene Blencowe
For the first time in her Bellator career, Cris Justino (aka Cris Cyborg) was pushed to a full 25 minutes inside the Bellator cage. Despite that, it was another highly successful night for Justino, defeating Arlene Blencowe in the main event of Bellator 279 to retain the Bellator women’s featherweight championship.
It’s the fourth time Justino has successfully defended the belt she won in her promotional debut at the start of 2020.
This was a rematch of Justino and Blencowe’s initial encounter in October 2020, which Justino saw by submission — the only time she’s done such in her career.
Cris Cyborg retains Bellator women’s featherweight title, but ends up going distance in rematch with Arlene Blencowe at Bellator 279
The two began the fight with plenty of trading in the center of the cage. About 90 seconds into the fight, Justino started to apply pressure before the two found themselves by the cage wall.
Upon the break, the two threw more high-powered strikes, with Justino dropping Blencowe with a right hand. As Justino went in for the kill, however, she landed an illegal knee to the head of the grounded Blencowe, which resulted in the champ getting a one-point deduction. Justino, however, continued to be in control until the bell.
Justino continued to get the better of Blencowe in the second round. Both women were busted up, with Justino bloodied behind her ear, trickling down her face, while some close in elbows and knees saw a cut develop near one of Blencowe’s eyes.
Blencowe had her moments in the third round, dropping Justino briefly with a right and attacking the body. But Justino’s own inside attacks, emphasized by her kicks, kept it difficult for the challenger.
Justino busted up Blencowe more courtesy of a suplex and powerful ground-and-pound in the fourth round. But Blencowe didn’t let up and continued to push herself, taking everything Justino could throw at her and seeing the final bell.
