Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino was once considered the only woman alive with a prayer of defeating Ronda Rousey. Now that Holly Holm has done it, Cyborg may be sensing an opportunity to finally invade UFC.
Cyborg is defending her Invicta FC featherweight title Saturday night, but she has long been open to a cross-promotional clash with Rousey. Now that Rousey’s been dinged, there are multiple opportunities for her to cross over.
Rousey's Days As A UFC Fighter Are Numbered
First, Cyborg could try and put the nail in the coffin of Rousey’s career. Rousey’s become an A-list celebrity, and is already asking out of UFC 200 so she can film a “Roadhouse” remake. If UFC president Dana White believes Rousey has one foot out the door, he could try to pair up Rousey with Cyborg as a cash-out fight that may establish Cyborg as UFC’s new, premier women’s fighter.
Cyborg is clearly angling for it, defending Rousey from critics after years of nasty spats through the media.
“I can’t say anything bad about her. She’s been good for women’s MMA. She opened a lot of doors. I know I [fought] before her, but she had opportunities and she’s handled it and helped everybody,” Cyborg said.
Holm Willing To Move Up In Weight For Cyborg
Another option could be to pit Cyborg against Holly Holm, if the latter successfully defends her bantamweight title vs. Miesha Tate in March at UFC 197. That fight would be easier to make, as Holm hasn’t ruled out fighting Cyborg at her own weight.
“I know with the UFC, they don’t have that division,” Holm said. “So, if that was something that they were going to put together, I’m not against it. I’m open to it. “I don’t know how high I would go. I have fought at heavier weights in boxing. It kind of changes things with MMA, because there’s wrestling.”
Either way, even though Holm upended Rousey, she has work to do to attain that level of notoriety. Cyborg has been an MMA star since 2009, when she ended Gina Carano’s career with a TKO.
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