The world has been waiting for all the suspense to hear if UFC was going to make the call to bring Cris “Cyborg” Justino onto the cards for UFC 198, which is set for May 14th in Brazil.
Even though she has been signed with Zuffa during her current Invicta FC career, this will be her first-ever UFC debut inside the Octagon. Justino weighs 145lbs but agreed to go down to 140lbs for this fight.
Currently, the UFC doesn’t have a weight-class for “Cyborg” still she has agreed to fight at catchweight against the BJJ expert that trains under the legend Cesar Gracie is no other than Leslie Smith.
When the news hit the MMA community was a little rocked to understand how that match-up came to happen, however, Dana White stepped in to say that “She was the only one that wanted this fight. She begged me for it”.
Given Cyborg has done great things by holding her Invicta FC title belt on an ongoing 10-year streak, it is only a matter of time until the even bigger fights are going to happen with some of the toughest women contenders right now.
I am looking at the Bantamweight division. If Cris TKOs Smith (let's just imagine) the UFC would look at that and have to start making some decisions. Either bring on a possible 140 or 145 weight division for women or “Cyborg” would have to go down 5 more lbs to start fighting for that title belt. She has stated clearly that if she gets her win she wants to fight Rousey next.
It can go either way and that is why the sport of MMA is always exciting because in the end you really don’t know what is going to happen. As for “Cyborg”, she completely lives up to that name to a T in the cage because sometimes she doesn’t seem human with the amount of power she possesses behind those fists.
If you want to see it for yourself make sure to check out The Ulitmate on UFC Fight Pass featuring Cris “Cyborg” Santos and most of her memorable fights all leading up to UFC 198.
Do you think “Cyborg” is going to TKO Smith like she has done all her other opponents?
Or does Smith have something up her sleeve since she was the one begging for this fight? Are the nerves going to get to Cris with this being her first debut and the pressure of fighting in her hometown?
Or do you think Smith is going to shock the world in the way 2016 in the UFC has been going thus far? I suppose we’ll know in a matter of time.
Until then let us know what you think!