A smart game plan from ex-bantamweight champion Holly Holm could not overcome the aggressive and precise attack of UFC women’s featherweight champ Cris Cyborg.

Cyborg (18-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) showed continued evolution in waging a patient, yet persistent attack that countered Holm’s (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) best weapons to take home a unanimous decision via scores of 49-46, 48-47, 48-47.

The women’s featherweight title bout was the main event of today’s UFC 219 event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Cyborg pointed to a golden cross after the decision was read and hopped on the cage to celebrate her first defense as the UFC’s women’s featherweight champ. She then re-broached the idea of a faceoff with Invicta FC featherweight champ Megan Anderson, who she’d called out before a fight with Holm materialized.

“I would like to fight somebody at 145, maybe Megan Anderson, maybe in Australia,” Cyborg said.

Holm, who rebounded from a three-fight skid in June, was widely thought to be the sternest challenge to Cyborg’s crown in a division with a scarcity of valid contenders. The former women’s bantamweight champ, who’d taken the title by felling the once-mighty Ronda Rousey, stepped up in weight for the second time since failing to capture the inaugural featherweight belt, which was initially created for Cyborg.

Holm’s gameplan highlighted the tactical mastery of her team at the famed Jackson Winkeljohn MMA. She capitalized on Cyborg’s aggression, repaying with a straight left hand and step-off right hook. When Cyborg tried to counter, she tied up the action and pressed to the cage, where she held up the action before breaking free.

But the weapons that worked early began to misfire as Cyborg adjusted. A left jab from the champ stung Holm and set up straight rights and hooks that connected heavily and started the swelling that dampened Holm’s vision.

As the fight went into the third and fourth rounds, Cyborg began to take control, walking down Holm and firing off more right hands that did damage. It didn’t matter when Holm tied up the fight, because more of the same was in store when the two resumed their striking exchanges.

The head kicks that defined Holm’s title-winning performances were easily intercepted by Cyborg, who attacked her flanks with her own kicks and once stung the head as the American moved backward.

A straight left from Holm early in the fifth and final round was met with a pair of Superman punches from Cyborg that slammed into her head.

It was another display of dominance from Cyborg, but not the same variety to which her fans have become accustomed. Instead of raging in and trading wildly, the champ executed a gameplan that slowly chipped away at Holm. The fight never once went to the mat, where most expected Cyborg would have a decided advantage. Just as effective on her feet, Cyborg made another statement in a career of them.

Now, as is always the case after one of her performances, the question remains who can match Cyborg, who remains unbeaten since her 2005 professional debut. The UFC may struggle to find contenders beyond Anderson unless current women’s bantamweight champ Amanda Nunes steps up in weight.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 219 results include:

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(MMAjunkie’s John Morgan and Ken Hathaway contributed to this report on site in Las Vegas.)