The UFC has been rumbling about making a new women’s division for a while now. Prior to Cristiane Justino Cyborg signing with them the division was to be the 125 lbs – between the current bantamweight at 135 and 115 lbs!
The new division will finally be 145 lbs but due to some negotiation issues Cyborg won’t be the inaugural champion. The title holder will be decided February 11th 2017 in a fight between Holly Holm and Germaine de Randamie.
Cyborg promptly reacted to the match announcement saying:
If @BellatorMMA and @ufc have a 145lbs champ but I havent lost in 10 years and Im willing 2 fight all, who is the real world champ? #CmonSon pic.twitter.com/wVK9TTr6UB
— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) December 14, 2016
I’m world champ no one has beaten me. One of these girls is 0-2 her last fights. The other last fought 145 5 years ago. Not a world title https://t.co/4JQhGYVfT0
— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) December 14, 2016
Holm was previously bantamweight champion when she knocked out Ronda Rousey in the 2nd round but promptly lost out the belt to Miesha Tate.
The worst part is I fought for the division. I didn’t turn down I title fight I asked for a march date. 10 years no division and no respect
— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) December 14, 2016
Meanwhile Cyborg was twice offered a title shot to which she replied she needed time to recover from the grueling weight cut. Cyborg famously struggled making weight for the last couple of bouts. The fight against Holm that was offered to her also had different terms, according to some reposrts Holm would agree to 138 but not to 145.
De Randamie is 3-1 in the Octagon. She’s had back to back finishes against Anna Elmose and Larissa Pacheco.
Meanwhile Cyborg has been working on her bjj.
