It’s the fight every MMA fan wants to see – and Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino says the UFC want to make it happen.
The former Strikeforce champion has been touted as the only woman capable of testing Ronda Rousey, with Tito Ortiz – Justino’s former manager – sparking a frenzy of speculation when he said plans were in place for an Octagon battle.
UFC supremo Dana White was quick to shoot down those rumours, telling Yahoo: “That was a complete lie. It’s 100 per cent a lie. First of all, the UFC doesn’t even talk to Tito Ortiz, so let’s start there. But we haven’t offered any fight to [Justino]. Tito Ortiz is just making this s**t up.
“In no way, shape or form did we offer her a fight against Ronda at Cowboys Stadium. Completely untrue.”
Despite that denial, White is known to want Rousey’s next title defence to take place on a super card at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas in December, headed by a Conor McGregor-Jose Aldo bout.
And there’s no doubt that a fight against Cyborg would be far more entertaining than a clash with current number one contender Miesha Tate, who Rousey has already beaten twice.
Despite White’s denials, Cyborg, who has racked up a series of stoppages almost as impressive as Rousey’s, took to Twitter to back up Ortiz’s claims.
I'm not lying nor is Tito- UFC called my manager last Sunday to see if I would fight Ronda at 135 on December 5 at… http://t.co/pF2VJdRuEU
— CrisCyborg.Com (@criscyborg) August 8, 2015
One issue UFC will need to address before arranging the fight is weight, with Cyborg doing all her damage in the 145lb featherweight division and bantamweight champ Rousey fighting at 135lb.
There are also concerns about a past failed doping test, but Cyborg insists she is ready to make the fight happen…
@criscyborg I'm ready – make the fight the fans want not the fight you and Honda want
— CrisCyborg.Com (@criscyborg) August 8, 2015