Cris Cyborg Dropping to 135 Pounds to Retire Ronda Rousey, “Like I Did Gina Carano”

There has long been tension between UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and Invicta FC featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, as their willingness to fight each other.

Rousey vs. Cyborg was the first big fight that the UFC wanted to try and put together when it instituted the women’s 135-pound division early last year. Cyborg, however, was reluctant to drop to 135 pounds due to health concerns.

Since that time there has been much conjecture about the weight concerns and due to the fact that Cyborg has tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in the past.

Rousey has gone on to become a superstar as the face of women’s MMA, particularly in the UFC. That obviously doesn’t sit well with Cyborg, who arrived on the scene well before Rousey.

Cyborg apparently has finally had enough and released a statement to AXS TV’s Inside MMA on Friday, revealing her plans to, with the assistance of a doctor, move down to 135 pounds for three fights. She intends, per her words, to capture the Invicta FC bantamweight championship and then challenge Rousey with the intent of defeating her twice before leaving the division.

Below is Cyborg’s full statement:

“In reference to Ronda’s statement that I am looking for a payday so that I can retire, you’re right, I am looking for a payday to retire you like I did Gina Carano. But to show it’s not only about money, I challenge you to a fight – winner takes all.  Or better yet let’s fight for FREE. ANYTIME! ANYWHERE! Ask your daddy Dana to make it happen. 

My English is not that great, so sorry if I was misunderstood. I didn’t literally mean I would die if I made 135. What I meant was that my doctor recommended that I did not fight the rest of my career at 135, which is what the UFC wanted.

You have fought 154 in the Olympics and 145 in MMA. You can meet me at 140 easier than for me to go down to 135. The only reason you want the fight at 135 is because you feel that is your only chance because you hope the weight cut will affect me. You guys say I’m irrelevant, yet watch my highlights. The true MMA fans not only know me, but know I’m the best. Sad that you give the true MMA fans no recognition by saying that they don’t matter.

I’m currently training to fight at 145 on March 28 and in early May. My team has hired a medical doctor to help me make 135. I plan to challenge and win the Invicta 135 championship in the summer and challenge you, champion to champion, for your 135 belt in December.

Now I know critics will say ‘I thought you said you would die if you made 135.’ All I’m promising is that I will give 100 percent to try to get to 135 to make this plan happen. If I do, I will still listen to my doctor’s advice and fight no more than three times at 135: first to win the Invicta belt, the second time to kick your ass and the third time to kick your ass again so that the world can see it wasn’t luck. You can even have me tested every week up to the fight. That way you will not have an excuse after I kick your ass.”