With UFC debut coming at 'right time,' Cris 'Cyborg' eyes fights with Tate, Rousey, Holm

Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino

To steal one of the UFC’s promotional phrases, the time is now for Cristiane Justino to make her octagon debut.

For “Cyborg,” finally getting the chance to compete under the UFC banner isn’t a case of better late than never. It’s happening at the exact right moment, Justino (15-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) said, and she will look to prove that statement against Leslie Smith (8-6-1 MMA, 2-2 UFC) at UFC 198.

“I don’t think it was soon or late, I think it was at the right time,” Justino told reporters at today’s UFC 198 news conference. “I think everything that I went through in my career (is) going to culminate in this UFC in Curitiba and UFC 198. I’ve prepared very well and I want to put on a great fight for everyone and bring a great knockout for Brazil.”

UFC 198 takes place May 14 at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil, and the main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

Justino, who is the current Invicta FC women’s featherweight champion, meets Smith in a 140-pound catchweight bout in her hometown of Curitiba. The option of Justino fighting in the UFC has long been discussed, but for one reason or another terms could never be settled on.

A fight with former UFC champion Ronda Rousey was repeatedly teased over the years. However, Rousey and UFC boss Dana White’s insistence she had to fight at 135 pounds prevented anything from coming to reality.

With Rousey no longer holding the UFC women’s bantamweight belt and the division more or less blown wide open after Miesha Tate took the title from Holly Holm at UFC 196 earlier this month, it opened the door for Justino to get a fight – even if it wasn’t in the bantamweight division.

For now, it seems the UFC 198 showdown with Smith is a one-off and doesn’t indicate a permanent move. Justino said she intends to hold and defend her Invicta FC title for as long as possible, however, the chance to compete at an event as significant as UFC 198 was something she couldn’t pass up.

“I’m going to continue in my division; I’m going to continue holding my belt,” Justino said. “I think it’s what people want to see. It’s a great opportunity at UFC 198, and I want to have a great fight. After this fight, I think the doors are going to open for a lot of things. That’s it. I want to keep fighting in my division.”

White said Smith was the “only one” willing to accept the fight, which Justino said she’s grateful for, even if others have refuted his statement. “Cyborg” is undefeated over her past 15 fights and has won 13 of those contests by knockout. She plans to add Smith to her list of victims and afterward will turn her attention to bigger targets.

“(Smith) chose to fight – she accepted to fight me,” Justino said. “I think a lot of them would not do the same. I’m thankful for the opportunity to fight her, and obviously after this fight I want to fight Ronda, I want to fight Holly, I want to fight Miesha.

“We’re going to talk to the boss, Dana White, (and UFC Senior VP and GM of Brazil) Giovanni (Decker) to give me that opportunity and I hope they can take it to fight at this weight. Not just talk about it, actually accept it.”

For more on UFC 198, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.