'Cyborg' headed to 135, plans to retire Ronda Rousey 'like I did Gina Carano'
Since UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey apparently won’t meet her at any other weight, Cristiane Justino said she’s making the drop from 145 pounds to 135 in hopes for a December fight.
“Cyborg†made the announcement via a prepared statement on Friday’s edition of “Inside MMA†on AXS TV.
The statement followed recent comments by UFC President Dana White that criticized Justino as a user of performance-enhancing drugs (she flunked a test in 2011 due to an anabolic steroid). However, Justino, Invicta FC’s reigning featherweight titleholder, said she planned to add the organization’s bantamweight strap to her collection before moving to 135 pounds and retiring Rousey “like I did Gina Carano,†who quit fighting in 2009 after a title loss to “Cyborg.â€
In fact, Justino (12-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) said she’s open to a winner-takes-all bout – or they can even fight for free. She simply implored Rousey (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) to “ask your daddy Dana to make it happen.â€
The full statement:
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.
Justino’s comments came on the eve of Rousey’s next title defense. Tonight in UFC 170′s pay-per-view headliner, Rousey meets fellow Olympic medalist Sara McMann (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) after a mere 56-day turnaround from a December title defense over Miesha Tate.
Although other contenders are working their way up the ranks – including Alexis Davis, who meets Jessica Eye in tonight’s UFC 170 prelims – few bouts would garner the attention Rousey vs. Justino would.
Justino, who’s also dabbled in muay fights lately, is currently under contract with Invicta FC, though her manager doesn’t expect issues if the UFC takes her up on her offer.
“[Invicta] is a relationship we want to continue for a long time, and (Invicta FC President) Shannon (Knapp) has been so great to us,†George Prajin recently told MMAjunkie. “But contractually, [Justino vs. Rousey] could happen in the fall. And to be honest, I think if the UFC offered the fight, I don’t think Shannon would stand in the way. I think she’d be very supportive, and even if she were contractually bound, I think she would allow Cris to fight Ronda in the UFC. I know that for a fact.â€
