Current Invicta FC featherweight champion and two-time UFC competitor Cris “Cyborg” Justino will no longer drop to 140 pounds to compete – unless Ronda Rousey is her opponent.
Justino, who has stated she cannot cut down to 135 pounds without possibly facing future issues with her body, told “Submission Radio” that trying to make 140 is starting to take its toll, as well.
“You know, the first time I made 140 in Brazil, Curitiba, the first time I did it was because it would be in my city. And then second reason was because it was UFC Brazil,” she said. “The main thing is to do is open an opportunity, maybe to do super fight with Ronda Rousey at 140. And I just showed them that I can make 140 for a super fight. And my second fight was supposed to be 145, I was supposed to be to defend my belt. And then again, I had the opportunity to fight 140 in Brazil. And I really respect all my opponents, but the girl in my last fight (Lina Lansberg), nobody knows her, and she’s had like 70 Muay Thai fights. She’s a really, really good opponent, but for me to sacrifice to make 140, I’d like a super fight. You know, something the fans would like to watch. Because my last opponent, her last win was at 145 pounds. And then sometimes, I don’t see it’s worth making 140 to make a fight like this. If you want a super fight, doesn’t matter the weight – It can be 150, can be 155, 145.”
Rousey, a former UFC champion, is set to return from a year-plus hiatus in December to challenge Amanda Nunes for the belt. The bout will serve as the main event to UFC 207 in Las Vegas.
“Ronda, after her loss to Holly Holm, she took like a one-year break, and then I don’t think it’s fair she fights for the belt after one-year break. I think she’s supposed to rematch Holly Holm or fight somebody else. I don’t think she’s humble enough for a fight that’s not for the belt, because she wants to fight for the belt,” Cyborg said. “But I think Amanda Nunes, she fights all the time and she’s in shape and man, I don’t know if she’s (Rousey) making a good choice. You know Ronda, she ran from me long time. This is no surprise to me that she doesn’t fight me in her next fight. Of course not. She cannot take a punch and she doesn’t have a strong mind. Holly just kicked her ass in her last fight and she doesn’t feel confident. I hope she’s training hard for her next fight, because Amanda is no easy opponent. Amanda knows (how to) punch and Miesha Tate can say about this. You know, that’s no easy fight, it’s no easy fight.”
