UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey posted yet another brutal, lopsided win at UFC 190.
Unsurprisingly, the discussion both on social media and at the UFC 190 post-fight press conference (warning, NSFW language) devolved into a discussion on the ever-elusive superfight between Rousey and Invicta FC featherweight champ Cris “Cyborg” Justino.
While the words were different, the message was the same. The UFC and Rousey want to make the fight…but are not willing to go out of their way to do so.
Dana White: The day Cyborg makes the weight, the Rousey fight is going to happen. I think that fight does 2.5 million PPV buys.
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) August 2, 2015
“I’m ready for Cyborg, Ronda is ready for Cyborg, but Cyborg has to make the weight,” said UFC President Dana White.
Rousey on who she wants next, taking a shot at Cyborg: I prefer whoever can make weight and not do drugs.
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) August 2, 2015
Rousey echoed the sentiment but took it another step further. When asked who she would like to face next, she took a swipe at Cyborg’s failed post-fight drug test from her 2011 bout opposite Hiroko Yamanaka.
It’s a parroting of the long-standing message when it comes to a potential Rousey vs. Cyborg superfight. While all three parties have long toyed with the idea, none of them have been willing to make the concessions necessary to make the bout a reality.
Rousey, who has been the leading lady at 135 pounds since 2012, does not want to leave her preferred weight class. Cyborg has never followed through with any of her attempts to make 135 or 140 pounds. The UFC does not want to risk Rousey losing against an opponent who fights in a weight class they do not promote.
It’s an unfortunate standoff that is keeping what may be the biggest fight in UFC history from happening. White predicted the fight would do 2.5 million pay-per-view buys and, while that is most likely not the case, it is a fight that would attract casual fans in a way not seen since Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir 2 at UFC 100.
Cyborg stated on Facebook after UFC 190 that she is looking to drop to 140 pounds for her next fight. If she can successfully drop, the discussion of Rousey vs. Cyborg can actually begin. If not, the fight could go the way of Randy Couture vs. Fedor Emelianenko.
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