CYBORG vs EVINGER
Strikeforce and Invicta FC featherweight champion.
“A lot of things happened in my career, but before I was just crazy inside the cage,” said Cyborg, now 18-1 with 1 NC. “Now I’m learning fighting. I have calmed down, I see a nice shot, I throw the shot. And I’m really happy to be a world champ. This is the perfect time because I think I’m at the top of my career.”
Cyborg dropped Evinger (19-6, 1 NC) with the first left hook she threw, but “Triple Threat” rose immediately. In a subsequent clinch, Evinger pulled guard, but Cyborg wasn’t playing that game and she rose to her feet before letting loose with punches to the head. Evinger did get a quick takedown midway through the round, only to see Cyborg jump to her feet again. The action came to a brief halt after an inadvertent eye poke by Evinger, and when the action resumed, Cyborg scored with a hard knee to the body. Evinger was hanging tough, though, even as she took Cyborg’s thunder.
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Evinger’s toughness was the story of round two, as she stayed in with the hard-hitting Brazilian, even though Cyborg completely dominated the frame.
A right hand followed by a kick to the head rocked Evinger, but she shook it off until a follow-up shot put her on the deck briefly. The Texan got back to her feet, but her offense was having no effect on Cyborg, who ultimately landed the finisher – a left knee to the head that put Evinger on the deck, with a single right hand bringing in referee Mike Beltran to halt the fight at 1:56 of round three.
The 145-pound belt was left vacant when champion Germaine de Randamie was unwilling to fight Cyborg.
