Cris Cyborg plans to drop to 135 pounds, 'retire' Ronda Rousey by end of year

[Dale]

Before Ronda Rousey enters the Octagon on Saturday night, her rival Cris Cyborg had some strong words for the UFC women's bantamweight champion. In a prepared statement to 'Inside MMA' on Friday, Cyborg vowed to defeat her by the end of the year.

Here is the full statement below:

"In reference to Ronda’s statement that I am looking for a payday so that I can retire, you’re right, I am looking for a payday to retire you like I did Gina Carano. But to show it’s not only about money, I challenge you to a fight – winner takes all. Or better yet let’s fight for FREE. ANYTIME! ANYWHERE! Ask your daddy Dana to make it happen.

My English is not that great, so sorry if I was misunderstood. I didn’t literally mean I would die if I made 135. What I meant was that my doctor recommended that I did not fight the rest of my career at 135, which is what the UFC wanted.

You have fought 154 in the Olympics and 145 in MMA. You can meet me at 140 easier than for me to go down to 135. The only reason you want the fight at 135 is because you feel that is your only chance because you hope the weight cut will affect me. You guys say I’m irrelevant, yet watch my highlights. The true MMA fans not only know me, but know I’m the best. Sad that you give the true MMA fans no recognition by saying that they don’t matter.

I’m currently training to fight at 145 on March 28 and in early May. My team has hired a medical doctor to help me make 135. I plan to challenge and win the Invicta 135 Championship in the summer and challenge you, champion to champion, for your 135 belt in December.

Now I know critics will say "I thought you said you would die if you made 135." All I’m promising is that I will give 100 percent to try to get to 135 to make this plan happen. If I do, I will still listen to my doctor’s advice and fight no more than three times at 135: first to win the Invicta belt, the second time to kick your ass and the third time to kick your ass again so that the world can see it wasn’t luck. You can even have me tested every week up to the fight. That way you will not have an excuse after I kick your ass."

With Ronda Rousey dispatching of another challenger and taking some time off to film her next movie, the question of who will emerge as the next contender for her UFC bantamweight title lingers.
Both Rousey and UFC president Dana White indicated Cat Zingano could be in line, assuming she could return from a difficult stretch in her personal life. And Alexis Davis threw her hat in the ring after split decision win over Jessica Eye on Saturday night.

Just don't expect Cris Cyborg to get the shot any time soon.

Cyborg, the Invicta featherweight champion, is no longer managed by Tito Ortiz. On Friday, she announced a plan to cut down to 135 in Invicta, with the hopes of fighting Rousey before the year is out.

But White said that given the previous statements that Cyborg could "die" if she cut to 135, she's going to have to prove on multiple occasions she can make the weight before she's given an opportunity.

"I think the genius [Ortiz] put her in a box, because saying that you'll die if you make 135 pounds is a pretty bold statement," White said. "She'll probably have to make 135 pounds a couple times somewhere else and fight and show that she's healthy, and then we'll see what happens."

White also indicated that if Cyborg does eventually end up in the UFC, she's not going cut ahead of the rest of the line in UFC's 135-pound women's division.

Don't see Dana ever making this fight to be honest, I just think he'll continuously stall and add obstacle after obstacle until it all fizzles out. Now I've never seen Cyborg fight but I'm aware of the hype and negativity around her but surely this will be the biggest womens fight they're ever likely to do?

 

[MaNonTheMoon]

It's probably the biggest women's fight that can happen anywhere, and Cyborg is probably the only person other than Zigano that people will see having a legit shot at beating Ronda, but I don't think it'll happen. Between Dana wanting to build the entire division around Ronda and the rumors that Cyborg is on something (She probably is), I don't see it ever happening.