While many were expecting Cris Cyborg to call out Ronda Rousey in her post-fight interview after defeating Leslie Smith at UFC 198 in Curitiba, Brazil, however the reigning Invicta FC Featherweight Champion decided not to. At the official UFC 198 post-fight press conference, Cyborg explained why she opted not to challenge Rousey on Saturday night.
“I believe that it was my moment, tonight was my moment and it was historic,” said Cyborg at the post-fight press conference. “I never thought I’d be sitting here tonight. So take a lot of pictures. I never thought I’d be here after everything that I went through. It was a historic moment for me. Talking about [Rousey] is not something…it’s something people are going to talk about, but I let my fans decide who my opponent will be and I just be ready.”
As far as the always-present weight issue, Cyborg claimed that she will still accept “super fights” in the UFC, but plans to continue fighting in “her weight class.”
“I’ve been training for two years to be able to make weight yesterday, and I felt very well tonight,” she said. “And I believe I can do other super fights. But I’m going to continue in my weight class. I’ve been champion for some time, and I want female MMA to grow, and I don’t think it’s the right thing for me to abandon my weight class.”
Regarding her performance against Smith on Saturday night in front of her hometown fans in Curitiba, Cris Cyborg said she felt she did her best in her Octagon debut.
“I think I did my best,” said Cyborg. “I like to go for the knockout. If you watch my fights that’s what I like to do. I have good wrestling, jiu-jitsu. I’ve been doing judo for the past year to fight with someone. But I’ve been waiting for the opportunity. That’s it. I’m prepared.”
For complete UFC 198 results, click here.
H/T to MMAFighting.com for transcribing the above Cris Cyborg quotes from the UFC 198 post-fight press conference.
