The Cyborg Talk Is Ramping Up For UFC 198

Reigning Invicta FC featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino may finally be making her UFC debut in the near future.

While it most certainly won’t be the long sought-after super fight against former women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, UFC Tonight’s Ariel Helwani reported that the UFC is considering booking Justino at May’s UFC 198 in her home of Brazil.

The fearsome slugger recently expressed her desire in fighting at this event:

“It has been almost 10 years since I last fought in my home country of Brazil,” Justino recently wrote on her website. “I am very lucky that over the last decade my Brazilian fans have continued to support me and my career as I chased my dreams as a world champion, while living and competing in America.”

“This May the UFC will be promoting an event in my hometown of Curitiba, Brazil, a city very rich in fight history. It would be an honor to return back to the city I was born in, and to step inside of the Octagon with an opportunity to prove myself as one of the best female fighters in the sport.””

It would be interesting to see what the UFC could come up with given the fact that the promotion doesn’t currently have a women’s 145-pound division.

Aside from Rousey, however, reigning 135-pound queen Miesha Tate, as well as former champion Holly Holm have both previously voiced their interest in a bout with “Cyborg”. Tate recently defeated Holm via submission at March 5’s UFC 196, and “The Preacher’s Daughter” has already stated she wants to get back into the Octagon as soon as possible.

Although it’s very short notice, a catchweight bout at 140 versus “Cyborg” would be a massive draw for the already packed card, which features heavyweight legend Fabricio Werdum defending his belt against Stipe Miocic.

Justino, who has attempted to cut down to bantamweight in the past, is well aware that the UFC doesn’t host her division at the moment:

“I know that the UFC does not have my division,” Justino recently wrote, “which is why I am asking my fans to help make this fight.”

A knockout machine, “Cyborg” has long been a household name amongst female fighters, and her jump to the UFC has always seemed inevitable given her drawing power.

Could that move be coming as soon as May?