Cyborg Wants To Fight At UFC 198
Invicta featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino (15-1, 1 NC) was rumored to fight 135lb champ Tonya Evinger at Invicta FC 17, but that that’s not happening. Evinger is expected to defend her title against Colleen Schneider at the event. Now, Cyborg is looking ahead, and fighting in the UFC is something that she is interested in now. In the past, Cyborg wanted the UFC to create a weight division (women’s featherweight) for her and then she would join the promotion. However, the UFC is against doing that.
Cyborg recently explained in a statement that she posted on her website that she wants to fight at the UFC 198 event in Brazil.
“It has been almost 10 years since I last fought in my home country of Brazil. 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.””
Cyborg understands that they do not have her women’s featherweight division so she is asking the fans to tell the UFC who she should fight.
“I know that the UFC does not have my division, which is why I am asking my fans to help make this fight!” Justino said.
“As many of you know I am already a Zuffa contracted athlete despite fighting for Invicta (Fighting Championships). Shannon (Knapp, Invicta FC owner) and Zuffa have a great relationship as you have seen with the sharing of fighters. If Invicta and the UFC could come to an agreement to let me defend my 145-pound belt in Curitiba it would be an honor,” “Cyborg” told FOX Sports in an exclusive interview.
“I cannot choose my opponent as a champion and so I would accept whoever they felt would make the most exciting fight for my fans.”
UFC 198 takes place on May 14th in Brazil. There is no venue announced for this event as of this writing. The event will be broadcasted on PPV, Fox Sports 1, and UFC Fight Pass.
The UFC has yet to comment publicly on Cyborg’s involvement at the event.
