MMA

Cyborg vs. Leslie Smith 2: Bellator 259 date, fight time, TV channel and live stream

DAZN

18, May 21

Cyborg vs. Leslie Smith 2: Bellator 259 date, fight time, TV channel and live stream

Ever since Cris 'Cyborg' jumped over to Bellator, she has managed to revert to her dominant ways.

A pristine 2-0, including two stoppages under the promotion, Cyborg will defend her featherweight world title against Leslie Smith at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., live on Friday night. The bout marks rematch from their UFC 198 fight back in May 2016, when Cyborg crushed Smith with a barrage of punches to record the KO in one minute and 21 seconds in Curitiba, Brazil.

Smith seems to have her work cut out for her, considering how Cyborg has looked as of late. Since having her 13-year undefeated reign snapped at the hands of a pulverizing 51-second knockout from Amanda Nunes in December 2018, Cyborg has strung together three straight victories. There was the unanimous decision she produced in her exit from the UFC against Felicia Spencer in July 2019, before scoring a fourth-round TKO (punches) of Julia Budd in her Bellator debut in January 2020 and trapping Arlene Blencowe in a second-round rear-naked choke for the submission win that October.

That's the momentum facing Smith, who has been shakier over her last two fights. Smith suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Blencowe in November 2019, before bouncing back with a unanimous decision of her own against Amanda Bell in September 2020.

Bantamweights Darrion Caldwell vs. Leandro Higo will serve as the night's co-main event to Cyborg-Smith 2.

Will Cyborg demolish Smith as she did five years ago or will Smith dig into her adversary and be able to pull off an unexpected upset?

Here's everything you need to know about Cyborg-Smith 2 at Bellator 259.

Bellator 259: Cyborg vs. Smith 2 start time

Date: Friday, May 21
Main card: 9 p.m. ET/2 a.m. BST
Main event: 11:30 p.m. ET/4:30 a.m. BST

The Bellator 259: Cyborg vs. Smith 2 main card kicks off at 9 p.m. ET/2 a.m. BST on Friday night. Cyborg and Smith are expected to make their walks to the cage around 11:30 p.m./4:30 a.m., although that depends on the length of the earlier fights.

Bellator 259: Cyborg vs. Smith 2 TV channel and live stream

Showtime

Bellator 259: Cyborg vs. Smith 2 can be watched on Showtime or live streamed via Showtime's website or app. Check the Showtime website/app for any geographical restrictions in your country.