'Cyborg' wants Rousey, Tate and Holm fights if they actually accept the challenge
After years sitting on the outside looking in, Cris "Cyborg" Justino is finally fighting in the UFC and she's happy to face Leslie Smith at UFC 198.
"Cyborg" has never previously been offered a fight in the promotion due to the fact that she competes at 145 pounds and the UFC doesn't have a division for her weight class currently.
But with the upcoming card in Curitiba, Brazil, the UFC finally got "Cyborg" into the Octagon for the first time ever and she's hoping it won't be the last.
"I think I'm very thankful for the opportunity right now," Justino said at the UFC 198 pre-fight press conference. "(Leslie Smith) chose the fight, she accepted to fight me. I think a lot of them would not do the same. I think (it's great) to have that opportunity to fight her."
If "Cyborg" is successful in her first fight in the UFC, she already has her sights set on a number of other potential opponents who have stated they would face her at a catch weight in the past.
While she may never get down to the bantamweight limit to compete for the UFC title, "Cyborg" would love the chance to test herself against the best of the best from the bantamweight division if they are willing to go up five pounds to meet her in the cage.
She's heard for years that there were plenty of challengers open to the opportunity and now "Cyborg" is anxious to find out if they were serious now that she's in the UFC.
"After this fight, I want to fight Ronda (Rousey), I want to fight Holly (Holm), I want to fight Miesha (Tate), but I'll talk to the boss Dana White and Giovani (Decker) to give me that opportunity," Justino said. "I hope they can take it, to fight at this weight -- not just talk about it but actually accept it."
Before Smith accepted the fight, former champion Holly Holm was actually offered the bout with "Cyborg" but ultimately turned it down in favor of waiting for a rematch with Miesha Tate to materialize.
Considering the UFC was already attempting to put "Cyborg" in a fight with one of the top women's competitors on the roster, there's little doubt they would try again after her fight on May 14 is finished.
Right now, "Cyborg" is just focused on beating Smith in Brazil and then waiting for the UFC to point her at the next opponent she needs to destroy.
