UFC women’s champion Ronda Rousey (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is set to defend her title against Liz Carmouche at UFC 157 on Febraury 23rd in Anahiem, California. Despite Carmouche being a tough opponent, right or wrong, almost everyone has already penciled in a victory for Rousey, including UFC officials, who have stacked the hopes of women’s MMA squarely on Rousey’s shoulders.

If she does win, however, some of that pressure may be shifted back to Cris Cyborg (10-1 MMA, 4-0 SF), who held the Strikeforce featherweight championship, and whether or not she can and will make the drop to 135 to challenge Rousey.

Although initial reactions when Rousey was signed to a UFC contract were that Cyborg just couldn’t physically make the cut, it appears the Brazilian and her camp are exploring the possibility.

via MMAweekly:

“When I first signed her she told me, ‘Tito, I can’t go down to 135 because I walk around at 172, 173,’” explained Cybrog’s manager, former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz.“And for a woman cut that much weight and for Cyborg to be the champion she has (been) at her weight class (145 pounds), to cut down (that far), it sounds like a disadvantage for her to cut down to a weight that she’s not used to.”

“In the very beginning when they said, ‘We want you to cut down to 135. You got two months to do it,’ I said no, it’s gonna be too soon. I don’t want to hurt my fighter.”

“It is going to be tough (for her to get down to 135). When she cuts to 145, she is shredded,” he stated. “To cut another 10 pounds… It’s tough to do, to get an extra 10 pounds off.” explained Ortiz.

“If Mike Dolce can do it in a healthy way, in a healthy manner, and there’s a doctor that can approve it and make it the right way, let the fight happen.”

Will Cris be able to make the weight-cut to 135 pounds and challenge Ronda Rousey for UFC gold? Only time will tell. But expect the Cyborg vs. Rousey talks to once again heat up.