Spencer confident Anderson won't get title shot before her: 'Not happening'
Felicia Spencer isn't worried Megan Anderson will earn a featherweight title shot over her even if both fighters emerge victorious at UFC Norfolk.
"That's not happening," Spencer told theScore. She added: "Anything is possible. Crazier things have happened for sure. But it's my job on Feb. 29 to make sure that I look the best. Whoever wins, say Megan wins and I win. My win is going to look better and I have a win over Megan.
"I'm going to have a big fight next ... I'm going to have to ensure that happens with my performance. So that's what I'm focused on right now."
Of the 113 female athletes listed on the UFC's website, only five are currently active in the women's 145-pound division, including titleholder Amanda Nunes. Nunes has yet to defend her featherweight belt since defeating Cris Cyborg for the title in late 2018, in part due to a lack of competition.
Spencer (7-1) is scheduled to face Zarah Fairn (6-3) at UFC Norfolk while Anderson will battle newcomer Norma Dumont (4-0) that same night. Spencer submitted Anderson in the first round at UFC Rochester in May 2019.
But Anderson bounced back in November by defeating Farin at UFC 243, while Spencer fell short in her last fight, a bout against Cyborg at UFC 241. It's possible Anderson, a Glory MMA product, could find herself in the title picture despite last year's loss to Spencer.
Spencer doesn't believe it will play out that way, however, and the former Invicta FC champion thinks her spot in UFC Norfolk's co-main event speaks volumes about her place in the title-challenger hierarchy.
"My loss to Cyborg is a step higher than Megan's loss to Holly (Holm) and I," the 29-year-old Canadian explained. "She's lost twice, I've lost once. I know there's been one less fight on my end. If Megan ended up with a title shot it wouldn't be the end of the world. I would just get the next shot, I would just take out whoever won.
"But I don't really see it happening that way. I feel like the UFC - they put me in the co-main event and she's not. For me, if we both won, the way things are looking is that I would get that shot."
UFC Norfolk takes place Feb. 29 at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. The vacant flyweight title will be up for grabs in the main event when Joseph Benavidez battles Deiveson Figueiredo.
Watch the full interview with Spencer below (00:37:40 mark) and subscribe to theScoreMMA Youtube channel here.