'Cyborg' adds another potential fight to busy 2014, plans move to 135

Cristiane Justino (12-1) may be adding another fight to what’s shaping up to be the most ambitious year of her career.

“Cyborg” appeared Thursday on MMAjunkie Radio prior to her featherweight title bout at Lion Fight 14 and said she could defend her title in July if successful against undefeated kickboxer Jorina Baars.

Additionally, she targeted September for a drop to 135 pounds, where she hopes to meet UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.

“This is my plan,” Justino said.

Lion Fight 14 takes place tonight at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and airs live on AXS TV.

If Justino’s schedule holds, the 28-year-old Invicta FC featherweight champ could be fighting at least four times this year, which would make it the busiest of her professional career.

Justino has struggled to find suitable contenders in her rise to the top of the women’s featherweight division, and she spent almost two years on the bench after testing positive for steroids and being stripped of her belt in the now-defunct Strikeforce. Now with Invicta and Lion Fights, she is mounting a campaign to earn the biggest fight of her life – a UFC title fight with Rousey.

If Justino beats Baars, she said she would move on to defend her Invicta featherweight title in early summer, then defend her Lion Fight belt, then drop to 135 pounds to vie for the Invicta bantamweight title, and then, possibly, meet Rousey in the UFC. Some are skeptical whether Justino can drop to bantamweight with her muscular frame, but she has enlisted a doctor to help her in the process. Her reps have said that while an extended career at 135 pounds isn’t advisable, she can compete in the division for a shorter stint.

Once fiercely critical, UFC President Dana White appears to be cooling toward Justino after her split his longtime rival, former UFC champ Tito Ortiz.

“He doesn’t have any more excuses, because I don’t work any more with Tito,” Justino said. “He’s no longer my manager. I’m waiting.”

Justino said despite constant questions from fans asking when she’ll fight Rousey, she’s focused on beating Baars under muay Thai rules.

“Now, I don’t think about Ronda,” she said. “I care about my next fight. It’s a very important fight for me. But it’s OK (that people ask me about Ronda), because people are excited, and people want to see that fight.”

MMAjunkie Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia, MMAjunkie lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.