The UFC will make history next year at UFC 208 on February 11 when it hosts the inaugural women's featherweight championship between Holly Holm and Germaine de Randamine. One fighter who is really disappointed by this is Cris "Cyborg" Justino.
Cris Cyborg is currently the top ranked female fighter in the featherweight category and she was expected to be one of the first fighters to challenge for the title, but she said that she would not be ready for the fight until March. The UFC, however, decided not to wait for her and booked the fight anyways.
Cris Cyborg is the current Invicta FC featherweight champion and has been competing at catchweight at the UFC where she defeated both her opponents by TKO. Even though the Brazilian is happy that the UFC finally decided to open her division she took a shot at the match up.
"I'm happy the UFC created my division. It's been 11 years I'm fighting for women to have the same rights as men with several divisions. Everybody knows I'm the featherweight champion. I'm undefeated for 10 years in my division. They put this belt only to sell the fight for the new MMA fans. For an example, Holly is coming off two consecutive losses and will fight for the belt. The real fight fans know what's real" MMA fighting quoted Cyborg as saying.
The UFC initially offered her the chance to fight in this match, but she declined because of her recent weight cut, a drop to 140 pounds for a catchweight bout in September. She told promoters that she would be willing to fight in March instead and felt the decision to continue with the fight was out of spite.
"My last three weight cuts were very hard. I said I couldn't continue doing this. They knew I wanted to fight in March, but they were mad at me for not accepting the fights. Yesterday, they said they had no girls to make this division. Today, they rush to make a belt. They are saying something to me" Cyborg was quoted as saying.
In response, UFC President Dana White made it clear that they offered her three fights and she declined all three following which they had to move on from her.
"We're in the fight business. That's what we do for a living. We're out to disrespect Cyborg? She said she couldn't make 145 pounds in eight weeks. We offered her a second and a third fight. She turned them down. With everything I've got going on in my life, the last thing I'm thinking is, 'Hey, let's get together and disrespect Cyborg" ESPN quoted White as saying.
