UFC champ Miesha Tate on future fight with 'Cyborg' Justino: 'A win-win situation'

Before catchweight fights became all the rage, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate didn’t consider a bout with Cristiane Justino more than fantasy matchmaking.

But now, Tate could very easily see herself following the trend and bulking up to fight “Cyborg,” a fearsome Brazilian who’s set to make her octagon debut next month at UFC 198.

The way Tate sees it, either she slays a dragon or gets a lesson that pounds do matter.

“Being completely transparent, it’s a win-win situation,” Tate told MMAjunkie.

For now, Tate, who fulfilled a longtime dream by capturing the UFC belt at UFC 196, has other things to think about. After the promotion teased a trilogy fight with her longtime rival, now ex-champ Ronda Rousey, a meeting with Amanda Nunes is booked for UFC 200’s pay-per-view main card on July 9 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Tate (18-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC) is coming off a thrilling come-from-behind submission win over Holly Holm (10-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), who knocked out Rousey (10-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) this past November. Nunes (11-4 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is on a four-fight winning streak.

Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino

When Rousey formalizes her return, a title fight should be on the horizon. If Tate retains the belt, she would get the chance to avenge a pair of devastating losses to her, one in Strikeforce and the other in the UFC. But she also said taking on and defeating Justino (15-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), the reigning Invicta FC featherweight champion who’s knocked out the bulk of her opposition, would also signify a great achievement.

“(Justino) is the most beastly woman and powerful and strong and just crushes girls, and I feel like, what do I have to lose? If I go out there and I can beat Cris, I feel like that says so much and it just adds to my legacy, and I would love to have that opportunity,” Tate said. “And you know what? If she beats me, then it is what it is. I went up in weight. But I’m willing to take on the toughest challenges.”

Justino debuts opposite UFC veteran Leslie Smith (8-6-1 MMA, 2-2 UFC) at a catchweight of 140 pounds, a number her camp often cites during a long push to book a superfight with Rousey during her reign. With the former champ now shelved, Justino is competing five pounds lighter than her natural featherweight class; she’s written off fights at 135 pounds, which she and UFC officials targeted when Rousey refused a catchweight bout.

Tate isn’t sure what the UFC has in store for Justino, but she would gladly take a fight at bantamweight or 140 pounds. She’s stepped up before when Rousey balked, and she will do so again if she gets the chance.

“For the longest time, I haven’t heard of (the UFC) doing catchweights, so it’s interesting to me that they’re doing that,” Tate said. “But I think that probably their ultimate goal is to (have Justino) come down to 135 and fight for the title.”

If that’s true, throw another name into the mix for the 135-pound women’s division.

For more on UFC 200, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.