Now 2-0 in the UFC, and firmly embedded as a member of the promotion’s roster, Brazilian star Cris “Cyborg” Justino has vacated the Invicta Fighting Championship featherweight throne. Unfortunately, it’s been almost 10 month since Cyborg’s last fight in the Octagon – a September destruction of Lina Lansberg – and as such, the dangerous fighter is becoming a bit agitated.
The reasons for Cyborg’s recent inactivity, of course, are manifold. Part of the reason it’s been so long since we last saw her in the cage is that she needed time to recover from two gruelling cuts to 140 pounds. Another reason for her continued inactivity is that the UFC’s reigning featherweight champion, Germaine De Randamie, is currently sidelined with injuries.
In a recent statement to BJPenn.com, Cyborg explained that, while she is frustrated, she does not fault De Randamie for her inactivity, and believes the champ should be allowed to take the time she needs to recover. That said, Cyborg also now plans to fight out the two remaining obligations on her current UFC contract, and ‘re-evaluate the situation’ from there.
See her full statement below:
“If [Germaine de Randamie] is not healthy enough to fight at UFC 214 in Anaheim, I don’t want an interim belt. 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.
After recently vacating my Invicta 145-pound belt, I also know what it is like to have a world championship that you want to defend and not being given the opportunity to do so.
I am ranked #1 in the world by both ESPN and Fox Sports at 145 and don’t need a belt to tell the fans I am number 1 in the world. They know I have not lost in 10 years.
Belts are for the promoter. If [De Randamie] is not healthy enough to defend her belt, She should be given time to heal completely and fight me after that has happened. There are men fighters who haven’t defended their belt for much longer without having an interim title made in their division and the women athletes should be given the same luxury.
I have already been sidelined almost 10 months, and for me the priority is getting back into the cage for my fans. 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.”
How do you think Cyborg should navigate this rather complicated situation? Sound off, PENN Nation!
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 4/10/2017.