Cris Cyborg wants next top featherweight contender than Amanda Nunes.
On Thursday, UFC president Dana White went on record with Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole, where he claimed that Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino will have a super fight with bantamweight Amanda Nunes next, but it seems that the featherweight champion is less than thrilled with the idea and doesn’t agree with the match-up.
The reigning women’s featherweight champion would rather fight the next top 145-pound contender, instead of another bantamweight fighter.
Cyborg since responded to that detail in an official post via her website.
“As a World Champion it is important that you face the #1 contender,” Cyborg wrote on her official website. “That is what makes it sport and not entertainment, otherwise what are the girls fighting at 145lbs training to work towards if they know they will never be given a title shot even if they become the best in the world?”
“I have a responsibility to the sport to ensure that when I retire the 145lbs division continues to exist, and it is because of that I want my next fight to be against a contender from the featherweight division that has fought at 145lbs within the last year.”
“If Megan Anderson is not ready to fight, then the next available contender Pam Sorenson deserves the opportunity,” she continued. “I can continue giving fans super fights, however in order for this division to grow it is my responsibility to respect the work of all the women fighting at 145lbs and give the top girls a chance at the title once they have earned it.”
Cyborg is not shutting her doors on a possible super fight against Amanda Nunes, but would only do so if “The Lioness” fought her way to it.
“If Amanda Nunes truly wants an opportunity at the 145lbs belt, a win against any ranked contender in that division would help establish her back in a weight class she left before fighting me.”
Cris Cyborg who recently retained her featherweight title by a unanimous decision win over Holly Holm at UFC 219 on December 30.
Cyborg mentioned, Megan Anderson, the former Invicta featherweight champion, would be her preferred next opponent. In case if Megan didn’t straighten out her issues, she would go for Invicta’s Pam Sorenson as the next in line. Pam holds a 6-2 record, given that she lost as recently as May of last year against Ediane Gomes.
While, Amanda Nunes last fought at UFC 215 against Valentina back in September, where the women’s bantamweight titleholder won via split decision.
Who do you want to see Cris Cyborg fight next?
