UFC president Dana White has revealed the company have signed Invicta Featherweight champion Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino, subject to contractual conditions.
White told ‘UFC Tonight’ that the agreement was made in February for the Brazilian to enter the women’s bantamweight division, but contractual conditions put in place by the UFC state that she needs to first compete at 135lbs at her current promotion, before crossing over.
The stipulation is no doubt to quell worries over her ability to make the weight, as she’s failed to do so on numerous occasions in the past.
The move is a shrewd one as she’d be useless to the UFC as a 145er as there’s currently no women’s featherweight division in the promotion, so in the event she fails to make Bantamweight, the UFC will have no contractual obligation to offer her any fights.
But, if she successfully makes 135lbs at her last fight in Invicta, she can make the move to the UFC, setting up a tantelising contest against current UFC bantamweight queen Ronda Rousey.
The two have been at verbal loggerheads for the past few years, with Rousey consistently criticising ‘Cyborg’ for her failed drugs test, recently labeling her a “cheat” and telling her to “stop taking f*****g steroids!”
Before her signing was officially announced, the Chute Box fighter released a statement aimed at her foe, which indicated she’d reached an agreement to enter the UFC’s ranks.
“Your excuses for not fighting me are falling almost as fast as you will when I get you I the cage. Stop with the reckless steroid allegations – I am clean! You know I have passes multiple tests, including random testing – let’s do Olympic (style) random testing you and I – like Mayweather/Pacquiao – and one less excuse for you to hide behind. Lorenzo signed me – I’m back and coming for you – but you will either retire to movies or run to 125 (lbs.) like you ran from me at 145,” read the statement.
’Cyborg’ is scheduled to defend her Featherweight title at Invicta 13 on July 10th. If victorious, she’ll vacate that belt and look to fight at bantamweight around the end of the year. If all goes to plan she’ll be able to set foot in the Octagon in early 2016.
Rousey also has an upcoming title defence against Bethe Correia at UFC 190 in Brazil, but if the champion, who the bookies have made a massive 1-16 favorite, is again victorious then the biggest fight in women’s MMA, and one many believed may never come to fruition, could finally become a reality.
