MMA

The return of a legend to the UFC? When they start paying fighters, we can sit down. I have to think about the future, not my ego, he says

Cris Cyborg is undoubtedly one of the greatest legends of women’s MMA. However, the former UFC champion has been reigning Bellator since 2020. And her return to the best organization in the world? It seems unreal. The fighter explained why.

Published

2 years ago

24. 9. 2022

Pavel Langr

Cris Cyborg is undoubtedly one of the greatest legends of women’s MMA. However, the former UFC champion has been ruling Bellator since 2020. And her return to the best organization in the world? It seems unreal. The fighter explained why.

Cristiane Justino aka Cris Cyborg is one of the most dominant women in MMA. Her record of 26 wins and 2 losses speaks for itself. She is a former UFC champion and current Bellator champion.

She only lost her first professional MMA fight in 2005, in 2018 she was defeated by Amanda Nunes, who is considered to be the best female fighter of all time.

It would be interesting to see if both of them were still part of the UFC, however, we have to accept that it will probably never happen. After all, Cyborg is happy in Bellator, has a multi-year contract and has no reason to leave.

While she says she had some good times in the UFC, she was often under a lot of stress outside the cage, which made her consider retirement. Leaving for Bellator, however, brought back her joy of fighting.

“I love it here, I’m excited. I’m happy, I don’t have to stress. I’mjust training and doing what I do best,” BJPenn quoted her as saying.

Cyborg has already made four successful defenses in Bellator. She has no competition in the featherweight division. Even at 37 years old. And a return to the UFC? “That chapter is closed,” the Brazilian native is clear.

The reasons are simple. Money. The Brazilian says she can sit down with the organization’s management the moment the UFC pays fighters better. She believes she needs to think about her future, not her ego.

It’s worth noting, then, that Cyborg will have her first professional boxing match this weekend when she’s challenged by Simone Silva. The UFC probably wouldn’t give her that opportunity, but Bellator hasn’t had much trouble with it.