Dana White: ‘We offered Cyborg a deal [when we purchased Strikeforce], and they turned it down’

LAS VEGAS – As with each time Ronda Rousey dominates a new bantamweight challenger in the UFC, the questions come up as to when she’ll face Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino.

At the media scrum in the aftermath of Rousey’s dominant 16-second TKO victory over Alexis Davis at UFC 175, White was presented the question again. This time, instead of answering straight off, he challenged the media.

“You guys want me to sign her, is that what you’re saying?” After more prompting, he said, “So, you guys the media are telling me I should sign Cyborg? Oh, I don’t know, I haven’t thought about it. Who likes it? Tell me. I want to know names.”

White then took some names of media members, and only one raised his hand that he didn’t want the UFC to bring in Cyborg. He noted that person and moved on to the crux of his survey.

“I just don’t want to hear your bullsh– if I do,” he said. “Because this shit is going to flip as soon as I sign her — drug testing and all the other bullsh–. That’ll be the biggest topic. It’ll be the biggest f—ing story for you guys to write. The script will flip immediately.”

Cyborg tested positive for stanozolol after her victory over Hiroko Yamanaka in Strikeforce back in 2011. She was suspended for the test, and has been a figure of controversy since. White has also taken umbrage to her affiliation with Tito Ortiz, who managed her for a time.

When asked point blank if he was interested in her, White just said cryptically, “Mmhmm,” before enlightening the gathering as to what has gone on.

“Just so you know, when we bought Strikeforce, we offered [Cyborg] the same exact deal that we offered Ronda, and they turned it down. They turned the deal down. That’s what happened when we tried to sign her.

“Listen, there are certain things to do, if you really want to fight in the UFC and you want to fight for the title, there’s ways to get that done. There’s ways to do it. It’s not like we never offered Cyborg a deal. We offered Cyborg a deal and they turned it down. She got offered the same deal that Ronda got, and Cyborg turned it down.”

LAS VEGAS – As with each time Ronda Rousey dominates a new bantamweight challenger in the UFC, the questions come up as to when she’ll face Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino.

At the media scrum in the aftermath of Rousey’s dominant 16-second TKO victory over Alexis Davis at UFC 175, White was presented the question again. This time, instead of answering straight off, he challenged the media.

“You guys want me to sign her, is that what you’re saying?” After more prompting, he said, “So, you guys the media are telling me I should sign Cyborg? Oh, I don’t know, I haven’t thought about it. Who likes it? Tell me. I want to know names.”

White then took some names of media members, and only one raised his hand that he didn’t want the UFC to bring in Cyborg. He noted that person and moved on to the crux of his survey.

“I just don’t want to hear your bullsh– if I do,” he said. “Because this shit is going to flip as soon as I sign her — drug testing and all the other bullsh–. That’ll be the biggest topic. It’ll be the biggest f—ing story for you guys to write. The script will flip immediately.”

Cyborg tested positive for stanozolol after her victory over Hiroko Yamanaka in Strikeforce back in 2011. She was suspended for the test, and has been a figure of controversy since. White has also taken umbrage to her affiliation with Tito Ortiz, who managed her for a time.

When asked point blank if he was interested in her, White just said cryptically, “Mmhmm,” before enlightening the gathering as to what has gone on.

“Just so you know, when we bought Strikeforce, we offered [Cyborg] the same exact deal that we offered Ronda, and they turned it down. They turned the deal down. That’s what happened when we tried to sign her.

“Listen, there are certain things to do, if you really want to fight in the UFC and you want to fight for the title, there’s ways to get that done. There’s ways to do it. It’s not like we never offered Cyborg a deal. We offered Cyborg a deal and they turned it down. She got offered the same deal that Ronda got, and Cyborg turned it down.”