Cris 'Cyborg' Justino threatens to leave UFC over weight restrictions
Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino is threatening to leave the UFC is a 145-pound weight class is not implemented.
Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino has finally made her way into the UFC and owns two knockouts during her current stint with the promotion, as she made quick work of Leslie Smith in May with a first round finish, and most recently a second round finish over Lina Lansberg in September in Brazil.
Prior to joining the UFC, however, ‘Cyborg’ ruled as the Invicta FC featherweight champion, never having competed below her championship weight of 145 pounds. Currently, the UFC only provides a maximum female weight class of bantamweight (135 pounds), therefore Justino has been forced to compete at catchweights of 140 pounds for both her Octagon appearances this year.
‘Cyborg’ has been campaigning hard for the UFC to implement her championship weight class into the promotion but UFC officials don’t seem to be budging. Recently speaking to Peruvian news outlet El Comerico, courtesy of MMA Fighting, ‘Cyborg’ has threatened to depart to rival promotions Rizin or Bellator if the UFC has not created her weight division after the conclusion of the two fights left on her contract:
“The main thing is that I have two fights left in my division [featherweight],” Cyborg said. “I’m going to stay in my division, and see if the UFC opens up my division, or if they don’t do it, I’m going to leave.”
“I’ll keep fighting so that hey open more divisions,” Cyborg said. “If I don’t have a division in the UFC, I’m going to go to another company like Rizin or Bellator or another organization where they have my division. I’ll keep fighting for that.”
As for when her next Octagon appearance will be the Brazilian is eying a February return next year and is ready to throw down with whatever name the UFC has for her at 145 pounds. If the UFC fails to carry out Justino’s championship weight class soon, however, it may be one of the last times we see her crushing presence under the UFC banner.
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