Felicia Spencer

Felicia Spencer is a Canadian mixed martial artist who built her reputation through methodical grappling and a rare willingness to pursue excellence across multiple martial disciplines. Born in Montreal and raised in Florida, Spencer began training in taekwondo at age four, later adding Brazilian jiu-jitsu and kickboxing before transitioning to MMA in 2009. She earned her credentials in Invicta FC, where she climbed to the featherweight championship by submitting opponents with technical precision, particularly the rear-naked choke. Signed to the UFC in 2019 as an undefeated prospect, Spencer made an immediate impression, submitting Megan Anderson in her promotional debut before facing the elite of the division.

Spencer's fighting style reflects her grappling pedigree. She lands strikes from multiple positions but favors submission opportunities, with four of her nine career wins coming by way of the mat. Her striking defense is solid at 45 percent, though she has struggled with takedown defense at 27 percent. Rather than chase volume, Spencer has always been tactically patient, willing to work in transitions and exploit openings. This approach served her well in high-profile bouts: she lost a split decision to Norma Dumont and earned unanimous-decision defeats to Cris Cyborg and Amanda Nunes, meaning she remained competitive even in losses against the division's best.

Spencer's biggest moment came at UFC 250 in June 2020, when she challenged Amanda Nunes for the featherweight title in a five-round main event. Though she fell short on all three scorecards (50-44, 50-44, 50-45), the bout underscored her status as an elite contender in a thin division. She retired in December 2021 after a TKO victory over Leah Letson, closing a three-year UFC tenure with a 3-3 record. Beyond the octagon, Spencer remains a full-time algebra teacher and BJJ coach, embodying a rare profile of martial-arts mastery rooted in education and discipline rather than pure combat mystique.