Cris Cyborg’s second UFC fight is reportedly already on its way. The dominant Brazilian, who splashed onto the scene at UFC 198 last Saturday, is slated to make her Octagon return in July for a bout against Germaine de Randamie.
UFC Tonight reported the news Wednesday. The UFC has not confirmed Cyborg’s involvement yet, and the report indicated the fight is only “targeted” for UFC 201 on July 30 at this time.
Cyborg, 30, signed with the UFC in March after years of being considered perhaps the best women’s MMA fighter in the world. She backed that up with a first-round knockout of Leslie Smith last weekend in Brazil, needing only one minute and 21 seconds.
“There is nothing better; I am very happy, and I got in there very calm,” she said, per Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com. “I didn’t push hard, and I studied more. Many people who have followed me since the beginning were waiting for me to come to UFC. I admire Leslie for coming here, because she made my dream come true.”
The fight was at a 140-pound catchweight, five pounds above the UFC’s heaviest female division. For years, MMA fans have dreamed about a potential bout between Cyborg and Ronda Rousey. They never fought while both were in the Strikeforce promotion, though having both under the UFC umbrella makes that a possibility again.
Cyborg did not ask for a Rousey fight after her match, indicating in the post-fight press conference she wanted the night to be about her, per Chuck Mindenhall of MMA Fighting:
I believe that it was my moment, tonight was my moment and it was historic. I never thought I’d be sitting here tonight. So take a lot of pictures. I never thought I’d be here after everything that I went through. It was a historic moment for me. Talking about [Rousey] is not something…it’s something people are going to talk about, but I let my fans decide who my opponent will be and I just be ready.
Beating de Randamie would likely bring us closer to a Rousey-Cyborg headliner. The 32-year-old Dutch fighter is 3-1 since joining the UFC and has won her last two bouts via TKO. She is currently the promotion’s 12th-ranked bantamweight.
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