- Cris Cyborg is ready to fight Cat Zingano on the ground and on the feet
- The reigning Bellator champ reflected on her career and impact on women’s MMA
- The Brazilian comments on her potential fight with PFL’s Kayla Harrison
Cris Cyborg is ready to defend her Bellator Women’s featherweight title once again when she faces Cat Zingano at Bellator 300. As the big fight approaches, Cyborg lets us know what she thinks of her career and the women’s MMA.
Ground or feet, no problem
In an exclusive interview with Middle Easy, the reigning champ said she has been in excellent form and her camp has been fantastic as well. Cyborg thinks the fight with Zingano could go to the ground or stay on the feet but rest assured she will be coming in at her best.
“I train everything you know, if it’s the fight for the ground you’re going to be ready for the ground, if it keep standup, we gonna [be ready] I want to feel the fight, we have five rounds to see what’s gonna happen but I’ve been training, I’m ready and for any situation, let’s see what’s going to happen. I’m a black belt I can submit or I can keep a strike and finish the fight. I want to feel the fight. But for sure, patient and find an opportunity,” Cyborg said.
“I’m very thankful for the opportunity this is going to be history event and they’re going to have four titles and the same night it’s gonna be amazing,” she added.
Thankful for Scott Coker and Bellator
Cyborg has been with Bellator for four years and so far, she is loving every bit of it. The Brazilian is grateful for the opportunity Bellator CEO Scott Coker gave her and she is making sure to pay it forward by becoming an inspiration to other aspiring female MMA fighters.
Cyborg also credits Coker and Bellator for the surge of her MMA career and for helping women’s MMA grow as well.
“I love to work for Bellator,” the champ raved. “Every single person there, I know, because when I came to America first time for Strikeforce, I work with the most staff there, work with Bellator and work for Scott cooker is really blessed. I’m really thankful. And for me, I feel like this era in Bellator gave me a lot of [maturity], a lot of experience. You see my fights getting better and better and I feel great, I love to be part of the family and home… I’m really happy.”
“The first time he give [me] the opportunity when I fight Gina Carano was the biggest fight the woman MMA at that time… I think it change a lot on sport and he always promoted women… And then now you can see how the sports grow so much and [I’m] thankful for be part of the history of women MMA,” she added.
“You can see how the woman MMA grow so much,” she reflected. “People are now getting together family, to watch MMA because of the girls, they get excited, the whole family and for me, part of this make me really thankful and happy… a lot of young girls came to talk to me, ‘Chris I start to fight after Gina Canano fight’ so this is really happy. I’m doing the right job, I’m doing the right thing and I show how much I love my job.”
Not ready to retire yet
The 38-year-old also revealed that she had already thought about retirement 20 years ago. However, she ended up realizing she’s not ready to leave the sport yet. On top of that, Cyborg is still excited to face more good fighters out there and it’s one of the things that keep her going.
“I was having plan to closing my career 20 years [ago] but next year as I figured out this 20 year you know but I’m feel healthy I love fighting… I want to continue fighting, doing great fights and you know have the opportunity to do the biggest fight in my career,” Cyborg admitted.
Cat now, maybe Kayla later
A cross-promotional super fight between Cyborg and PFL’s Kayla Harrison is still one of if not the biggest fight women’s MMA fans have been anticipating. For Cyborg, it’s always gonna be a possibility but for now, she just wants to face what’s in front of her.
“It’s it going to be a great fight, I know Kay is coming from loss, she’s gonna fight soon and you know you have [Larrisa] Pacheco, she’s the champion too she’s a great opponent too, can be the biggest fight too and you know now I’m a fight Cat Zingano, I like to step one step each you know, one step first and I look now, Cat Zingano but for sure after this fight… [there are] a lot of good names and great names who can do the next fight,” Cyborg explained.
Bellator 300 will take place this weekend at the Pechanga Arena, San Diego, California. It’s a stacked card and the Cyborg vs. Zingano title fight will be the co-main event. Cyborg will be coming in looking to defend her featherweight title for the fifth time.
Check out the full interview below:
