Cindy Dandois on losing her Invicta FC 15 headliner spot: 'I don't really get it'

Cindy Dandois had a very bad run of luck recently. After losing her Invicta FC 15 headliner spot against Cristiane Justino, Dandois made the trek to Las Vegas to try out for the upcoming season of “The Ultimate Fighter” only to be told they no longer were looking for bantamweights for the show.

The bout with “Cyborg” Justino (14-1) was supposed to take place at a 140 pound catchweight, rather than the featherweight class where Justino holds the promotion’s title. Dandois (6-2) was to be Justino’s first opponent on her way down to 135 pounds for a potential superfight with then UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.

After Rousey was knocked out by Holly Holm at UFC 193, it was announced that Justino would defend her title at the event. Days later, it was announced that she would face Daria Ibragimova (9-1) rather than Dandois. Adding insult to injury for Dandois, she already holds a win over Ibragimova.

“That was actually really bad luck for me because I came out for (the TUF tryouts) here (in Las Vegas),” Dandois told MMAjunkie Radio. “I was supposed to fight Cris ‘Cyborg’ at the next Invicta show. But, for some other reason, (Invicta FC Matchmaker) Julie (Kedzie) cut me off because Cris couldn’t make 140 anymore. But she didn’t even ask to give me the fight at 145. I would have at least spoke about it. I would have to change some things with my weight or something. They gave it to a girl who has like 9-1 record. The one loss was against me. I don’t really get it.”

While business can result in perplexing decisions on the part of a promoter, Dandois can’t wrap her head around the idea that no one spoke to her about remaining in the main event.

Dandois committed her life to the opportunity to face one of the biggest names in women’s MMA and now she’s out in the cold, completely removed from the event and suffering the financial ills that come with it.

“I’m off the card and Julie only told me after it was already announced,” Dandois said. “I asked her a few days before what was going to happen. I understand she will not be able to make 140, just let me know. She was like, ‘Oh, I will tell you tomorrow.’ Tomorrow there was nothing said. A few days passed and I kept on training and took away from my job for two months.

“I really counted on that money because I have a lot of kids at home to take care of. Three kids and two extra. I’m raising almost five kids now. I was really counting on that, so just cutting me off without even asking if I would take the fight at 145 and giving it to a Russian girl I have a submission over in the first round, that really hurt me. I was really emotional about it. I really adore (Invicta FC President) Shannon (Knapp), but I feel like Julie is doing a poor job.”

For more on Invicta FC 15, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

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