Cris “Cyborg” Justino has reacted angrily to being left out of the UFC’s inaugural women’s featherweight title showdown and has accused company boss Dana White of lacking respect.
The UFC announced on Tuesday that a 145-pound divisional title was being set up, with Holly Holm and Germaine de Randamie set to battle it out for the crown at UFC 208 in Brooklyn, New York, on Feb. 11.
After making her UFC debut earlier in the year, Cyborg made it known on Tuesday in a barrage of posts on social media that she was unhappy not to have been included in what’s set to be a historic contest:
Just 2 months ago there was no girls at 145 to fight. Now they have a girl who's 0-2 fighting for the belt just to disrespect me.
— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) December 14, 2016
When you don't have legit rankings you get 1-5 vs 10-0 for a belt. And you get people like me waiting for a division now on the outside
— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) December 14, 2016
The worst part is I fought for the division. I didn't turn down I title fight I asked for a march date. 10 years no division and no respect
— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) December 14, 2016
In another post, she said "I have always done my best when I fight hoping [White] would respect that, but it's not going to change no matter how many fights I win."
Since joining the UFC, the Brazilian has fought at a 140-pound catchweight twice, beating both Leslie Smith and Lina Lansberg inside the distance.
As reported by Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports, White said the new division was created for Justino due to her assessment that she was unable to make the 135-pound bantamweight limit. The UFC boss also added that dates were offered to her to take part in the title fight, although they were turned down.
“We made the division, we called her and offered her a title fight at 145 pounds, and she said, ‘Eight weeks isn’t enough time for me to make the weight,’” White reiterated. “[Matchmaker] Joe Silva was like, ‘If you can’t make 145 pounds in eight weeks, you’re still in the wrong weight class.’”
Cyborg offered an explanation as to why she was unable to take the fight in February with the following posts on social media:
For my fans, I did not turn down the title fight. I accepted to fight Holly at UFC brasilia then she missed the date and I asked for march
— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) December 14, 2016
.@sports_god1 @UFCONFOX I was asking for more time to recover from a bad weight cut to 140 after being pressured to fight at that weight
— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) December 14, 2016
The Brazilian is rated by many as the best featherweight fighter on the planet. She lost her first-ever professional MMA bout in 2005, although since then she’s been undefeated, winning 17 of her 19 fights in total, including one no contest. Cyborg is the current Invicta featherweight champion, too.
She also accused the company of double standards, noting that Ronda Rousey was crowned as bantamweight champion outside the Octagon, and the same fighter was not put under pressure to fight on short notice after her loss to Holm:
Anyone remember when the @ufc gave @RondaRousey a belt at a press conference? #cmonson I'm world champ 145 10 years the fans know the truth
— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) December 14, 2016
The @Ufc gives @RondaRousey 1 year to prepare for he belt, they can't give me 2 weeks. I am world champ this division was made for who?
— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) December 14, 2016
Jeremy Botter of FloSports is unsure how much clout this new title will hold without Cyborg competing for it:
The UFC wants Cyborg as champ. This title was created for her. Without her, no title. That thing is hers for the taking when she's ready.
— Jeremy Botter (@jeremybotter) December 14, 2016
Meanwhile, Bleacher Report’s Chad Dundas isn’t sure about the UFC’s decision, although he is excited about what this means for the future:
Starting a women's 145-lbs class where Cyborg won't be champ seems bad. But starting one where Cyborg will be really, really angry? Eh, OK.
— Chad Dundas (@chaddundas) December 14, 2016
As noted by Iole, Cyborg has spoken in the past of how difficult it has been for her to make the 140-pound catchweight limit in her last two fights, and as a result, she has needed more time to recover. Although she secured two knockout wins in those bouts, it’s clear she’s much more comfortable in the featherweight division.
Holm, who famously knocked out Ronda Rousey at UFC 193, has been handed this chance despite enduring back-to-back losses in her last two fights. De Randamie is a former Strikeforce featherweight competitor, although she has fought at bantamweight since moving to the UFC in 2013.
