Bellator 259: Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino knocks out Leslie Smith with nine seconds left, calls out Cat Zingano
- Featherweight champion defends title in lopsided main event, landing 174 strikes to Smith’s 34
- ‘We knew that it was gonna be this way, we knew it would be tough,’ says ‘Cyborg’ after first fifth-round finish of her career
Cris “Cyborg” Justino closed the show in spectacular fashion at Bellator 259, securing the 19th knockout win of her career with just nine seconds to go against Leslie Smith and retaining her featherweight title.
The Brazilian was cruising to a dominant unanimous decision after punishing fellow former UFC star Smith for almost all of the five rounds in their rematch at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. She landed 174 total strikes – close to one every eight seconds on average, and more than Smith threw in total (172, with 34 landed).
But “Cyborg” (24-2, one no contest) dropped No 4-ranked Smith (12-9-1) with a huge right hand late in the final round and blasted her with a barrage of strikes on the ground, forcing referee Dan Miragliotta to step in.
“I knew she’s tough, I met her before,” Justino said in her post-fight interview in the cage, after securing the first fifth-round finish of her career.
“I know her, my fiancé knows her. I really respect her. She’s a real fighter. I worked really hard, I know with her I can do a really great match because she keeps going, she’s tough.”
