Give Cyborg A Challenge, And Not The Weight-Cutting Kind

UFC Fight Night 95 went down last night (September 24, 2016) from Brasilia, Brazil, and was headlined by Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino’s second UFC appearance. The fight, if you can call it that, went as expected. Pitting the most dangerous female fighter in history against a woman who possessed no high-level MMA experience? Little wonder ‘Cyborg’ landed 84 significant strikes in a thorough beatdown. The only thing surprising about it was that it lasted seven and a half minutes instead of Justino’s customary two.

After her two fights on Brazilian soil, there is no denying that the female wrecking machine has a certain cachet, particularly in her home country. With all due respect to the all-female promotion, sending ‘Cyborg’ back to the relative obscurity of Invicta doesn’t seem likely at this point. She has headlined one UFC show and been a significant part of another pay-per-view (PPV) draw. Her charisma and intimidating prowess ensure that she will continue to sell well, especially in Brazil. The crowds’ responses to her have been noticeably louder than usual.

If Justino is destined to continue competing in the Octagon, there are two questions that stand out. One, who will she fight, and two, at what weight will she compete? ‘Cyborg’ said post-fight that she was willing to throw down at 140 again, but it would have to be against a top-ten opponent. This comment hits on both questions.

Starting with her next potential foe, the UFC needs to give her a ranked bantamweight. Featherweight is too thin, bereft of any talent that could give Justino a run for her money. This is the reason the UFC doesn’t make her a champion and build a division around her, a la Ronda Rousey. The shellackings she handed out in Invicta are representative of what 145 pounds has to offer ‘Cyborg’. The best female fighter in the world does not need to be spoon-fed opponents making their major MMA debuts or ones with middling records. She can and should be fighting the best.

Which brings us to the next question: will she continue to compete at 140 pounds? This should be up to her opponent. There is no reason for the UFC to continue to force ‘Cyborg’, who already struggles mightily to make 145, to cut an extra four pounds. Anyone who saw the documentary on her when she is cutting weight can see the truth of that.

Doing super fights at 145 instead of 140 doesn’t make any difference from a promotional standpoint. Making Justino fight at 140 instead of her actual weight class is more about the UFC trying to keep her in her place. Conor McGregor changed the self-promotional game and snatched significant control from the UFC. The promoter is loath to let that happen with any other potential stars. Telling ‘Cyborg’ who, when, where, and at what weight she will compete is part of maintaining that control.

But that is unconscionable after seeing Justino make 140. The only reason she should be trying to make 140 again is because that is the only weight her opponent would agree to. And I would argue that if a potential adversary insists on fighting her at that weight, the UFC should try to find someone else. If no ranked opponent is willing to go up the scale and fight her at featherweight, then and only then should she make the cut to 140 again.

It is understandable that a bantamweight fighter would not want to go all the way up to 145 to battle the most fearsome female fighter in history. Making her cut that extra four to five pounds could help swing the balance for an opponent who could survive the first couple rounds. A potential win over Justino is a win over the best woman to ever do it, whether it comes at 140 or 145 pounds. Fighting her at featherweight, being able to claim to be the best featherweight in the world, and then returning to bantamweight doesn’t make a ton of sense when the alternative is a potentially easier fight with ‘Cyborg’.

But if someone like Germaine de Randamie, Miesha Tate, or Valentina Shevchenko is willing to fight her at 145, that should absolutely be the next course of action. Putting both the long and short-term health of one of its fighters, let alone a budding superstar, to keep her under its proverbial thumb is senseless for the UFC. ‘Cyborg’ needs an actual challenge, and if at all possible, the risk she incurs should be in the Octagon, not on the scale.