Hostilities Rise Between Cyborg and Ronda Rousey Camp
Shot’s continue to fly back and forth between Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino and the Ronda Rousey camp. Bitterness between the two resurfaced recently when “Cyborg” suggested that Rousey was scared of her ahead of their respective title fights last weekend. The hostility continued in the aftermath of their bouts when Rousey said she was not impressed with Justino’s victory.
The animosity escalated further when Rousey’s jiu-jitsu coach Rener Gracie said that a fight between the two may not be as competitive as many believe. Speaking with Ariel Helwani on this week’s edition of The MMA Hour Gracie had the following to say:
“I think people are giving Cris ‘Cyborg’ more credit than she deserves, in the sense of beating Ronda,” he said. “No offense to her, she’s obviously an amazing athlete and has done amazingly well in MMA, and from what I hear is a great person as well. This is just me personally, I know what it feels like to roll with a very athletic, strong person. People say rolling with Cris ‘Cyborg’ is like rolling with a man, you don’t have to go easy, you’re rolling very hard. And I’ve rolled with a lot of world class men, martial arts, jiu-jitsu, MMA, and I know what they feel like. Ronda doesn’t feel like them.
“That’s the whole point,” Gracie continued. “She’s beyond. I don’t say rolling with Ronda is like rolling with a man. I’ve never said those words and I never will. Rolling with Ronda is like rolling with an alien.”
Justino has since responded on The Underground:
“Cool story bro. I am not surprised you say bad things about me. Your athlete used the same technique to grow her name. too much credit? Who are you to say this?! You dont know how hard a fighters life is. You were born with a life of luxury, you don’t know the struggles a Brazilian girl has in America. No promotion helps me grow, only blood and sweat, chute boxe style. Nobody made my name but me; I have no grandfather’s name to live off. Go promote your online students While I earn my credit fighting, and ask the real Gracies what respect means.”
“Cyborg” has also been going back and forth with Rousey’s mother via twitter:
@criscyborg @MMARoasted @RondaRousey I’ll give you a number – 135
— DrAnnMaria (@DrAnnMaria) March 2, 2015
Cute Ms. @DrAnnMaria your motherly instincts to protect your lil cub @RondaRousey is kicking in, it’s natural but The lion is coming. @ufc — Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) March 4, 2015
Interesting stuff. Rousey’s mother raises an important point, however. Can “Cyborg” make the bantamweight limit? She reportedly weighed 175 pounds the night of her title defence at Invicta FC 11 last weekend, which is a long way off 135. UFC president, Dana White, made it clear again at the UFC 184 post-fight press conference that Justino would need to make 135 pounds for one fight prior to him booking a bout between the pair. His position is understandable given the recent issues with fighters missing weight.
If “Cyborg” can’t make the weight, then all this controversy will have been for nothing. If she can, then we may be in for a compelling fight.
