Invicta FC featherweight champion Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino has been campaigning hard for the UFC to implicate a 145-pound weight class into the promotion, building the new division around her in the process.
UFC President Dana White stated on an episode of the UFC Unfiltered podcast with Matt Sera and Jim Norton, that he actually offered the powerful Brazilian two title fights at the featherweight weight limit, but she turned the two opportunities down:
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“What’s crazy about that is this: I offered Cris Cyborg a title fight at 145 pounds a month ago,” White said. “She had eight weeks to get ready for it, she said she couldn’t make the weight, said she couldn’t make 145 pounds.
“So then I offered her another 145-pound title fight for Brooklyn (UFC 208), she turned it down. She turned down two 145-pound title fights. One because she said she couldn’t make 145 pounds in eight weeks, and Joe Silva’s like, ‘If she can’t make 145 pounds in eight weeks, 145 isn’t the right weight class for her either.’”
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Cyborg has not competed since her catchweight victory over Lina Lansberg at 140 pounds at UFC Fight Night back in September. Justino has not been defeated since making her mixed martial arts (MMA) debut in 2005 when she was submitted via kneebar in the first round of her match-up against Erica Paes.
Also read: MMA News: Cyborg wants to dismantle Ronda!
‘Cyborg’ recently responded to these claims by stating that the reasons for her declining the 145-pound title bouts were due to health concerns regarding her weight cut:
“After that, they invited me to fight again, but this time at my weight and for the belt, but with 10 weeks’ notice.
Knowing that I was recovering, like I said, I told them I can fight anyone in March, but I need to take care of my body, and no mention of the fact that I’m dealing with severe depression and can’t have another brutal weight cut like before.
This decision is more important than the belt or the division, I’m thinking about my health.”
Justino has yet to be booked in a fight with just two left on her contract with the UFC, and it remains to be seen if she’ll remain with the promotion after her contract is up. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more.
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