Yesterday afternoon, in a statement to BJPenn.com, UFC featherweight star Cris “Cyborg” Justino discussed her current inactivity, her hopes for a UFC 214 fight with reigning featherweight champ Germaine de Randamie, and her intention to fight out her current UFC contract and ‘re-evaluate the situation.’
“If [Germaine de Randamie] is not healthy enough to fight at UFC 214 in Anaheim, I don’t want an interim belt,” Cyborg said in this statement. “When the UFC asked me last January to fight her for the belt, I explained to them I would, but needed a March date because my body was still recovering from two weight cuts to 140lbs. So I know what it is like to want to accept the fight, but needing additional time to heal.”
“I have already been sidelined almost 10 months, and for me the priority is getting back into the cage for my fans,” she continued. “I have two fights remaining on my contract and my goal is to complete them and then give myself an opportunity to re-evaluate the situation and see which direction is best for me and my team.”
Were Cyborg to fight out these remaining two obligations on her current UFC contract and explore free agency, she would likely not go long without a home.
In a statement to BJPenn.com’s Tom Taylor, Bellator MMA President Scott Coker confirmed that his promotion would absolutely be interested in speaking with Cyborg were she to become a free agent.
Yesterday @criscyborg told @bjpenndotcom that she'd like to complete the last two fights on her current UFC contract and 're-evaluate.'
— Tom Taylor (@TomTayMMA) April 11, 2017
Just followed up on this with @BellatorMMA boss @ScottCoker who told me "If Cris Cyborg becomes a free agent, we will speak to her." https://t.co/wBts7DuclV
— Tom Taylor (@TomTayMMA) April 11, 2017
Given that Bellator just crowned it’s first ever women’s featherweight champion in Julia Budd, who defeated the veteran Marloes Coenen to earn this honor, it’s not surprising that the promotion would be interested in adding the consensus best female featherweight on earth to its roster. That said, this remains a definite cross that bridge when we come to it situation. Cyborg will have to honor the last two fights on her deal before she’s allowed to field offers from other organizations.
Do you think Cyborg should stick with the UFC, or fight out her contract and test her mettle in another promotion like Bellator? Sound off, PENN Nation!
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 4/11/2017.