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Dana White still interested in Ronda Rousey vs. Cris Cyborg
It just over a year ago when UFC president Dana White predicted that a super fight between Ronda Rousey and Cris "Cyborg" Justino would shatter the all time pay-per-view record with $2 million buys if the two women's fighters finally faced off in the Octagon.
A lot has changed since that time after Rousey suffered a brutal knockout courtesy of Holly Holm and hasn't fought since then. Meanwhile, "Cyborg" finally made her successful UFC debut earlier this year with a second fight scheduled this Saturday night in Brazil against Lina Lansberg.
While some of the luster may have been knocked off of this potential fight thanks to Rousey suffering a defeat last November, White knows that putting her in the cage with "Cyborg" would still be huge business for the UFC.
Ideally, White hopes Rousey will return to action sooner rather than later and eventually salvage the fight with "Cyborg", which he believes would still do massive business on pay-per-view.
"When she does return, I'm sure (Ronda is) gonna want to fight for the title, probably defend it and then maybe fight Cyborg," White said in a recent interview with Globo in Brazil (translation by MMAFighting). "I don't know. We'll see how this thing plays out."
There have been persistent rumors that Rousey may return to action as early as December 30 at UFC 207 in Las Vegas for a potential showdown against current champion Amanda Nunes. That's far from a done deal, however, and Rousey has remained silent outside of a few interviews since her loss to Holm last November.
White understands that a Rousey vs. "Cyborg" showdown would generate the most revenue for the UFC, but he says there are also other matchups that could also give the veteran Brazilian a real challenge.
"Cyborg" has been running roughshod through her competition lately with four straight finishes in the first round and she hasn’t lost a fight since her professional debut back in 2005. As much as a fight with Rousey would be the biggest potential matchup, White teases that there are other women's fighters at 135-pounds who would be willing to go up in weight for a chance to face "Cyborg".
"The dream fight for Cyborg is obviously the Ronda Rousey fight, but there's other big names out there like Miesha Tate, Holly Holm and possibly — and I know Brazilians don't like seeing Brazilians fight — but possibly Amanda Nunes," White said.
"I think that Cyborg has made it clear that she can't make 135 pounds. We do have a couple of really good girls at 135 that would like to fight Cyborg, that would like to move up and take that challenge."
"Cyborg" will headline the UFC's return to Brasilia, Brazil this Saturday night and White says the promotion has been working to find her viable opponents to fight inside the Octagon.
There's no doubt "Cyborg" is one of the biggest stars in women's MMA and now White's mission is to find her an opponent that can finally push her in a fight. Whether or not Lansberg is that person remains to be seen this weekend.
"Cyborg is a huge star in the sport of mixed martial arts and in women's MMA. She mows people over very quickly and very violently," White said. "People are waiting to see her get challenged, and we're trying to challenge her.
"I think that when you talk about a headliner, somebody as big and as dominant and as scary as Cyborg is — she is a definite headliner — and obviously she is Brazilian, and she's a big star down there. She's a big star all over the world."
