UFC women’s bantamweight Leslie Smith was enjoying herself in Australia when she found out about a potential career-making fight against Cristiane Justino at UFC 198. Smith had just outpointed Rin Nakai at UFC Fight Night 85, improving her promotional record to 2-2, and she was in Brisbane to soak up some sun before heading back to her home in Pleasant Hill, Calif. She and her boyfriend decided to visit the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, which also hosts kangaroos, Tasmanian devils and dingos, among other wildlife unique to Australia. As it happened, UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby was also there. When Shelby told Smith the Invicta FC women’s featherweight champ had signed with the UFC and was headed to the octagon, she informed him she had previously sparred with Justino. Shelby asked how that went.
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How Leslie Smith got the ‘Cyborg’ fight, all thanks to a koala sanctuary – MMA Junkie