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For the first time ever, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will stage an event in Raleigh, North Carolina, as the world’s leading mixed martial arts (MMA) organization will stage a Fight Night event in the “City of Oaks” on January 25, 2020.
Interestingly enough, that’s the same night Cris Cyborg is set to make her Bellator MMA debut, as she will face Bellator MMA’s women’s Featherweight champion, Julia Budd, in what will be her debut for the Viacom-owned company.
While no fights have been confirmed at the moment, it is UFC’s first announced event in what is sure to be another busy calendar year.
Cyborg, meanwhile, recently inked a record-breaking contract with Bellator after her time with UFC came to an end, putting a halt to a love-hate relationship between her and company president, Dana White.
During her time with the Endeavoer-owned promotion, Cris went 6-1, with her lone loss coming via first-round knockout at the hands of Amanda Nunes at UFC 232 last December. Talks fo a rematch were conflicting, as Cyborg was adamant she wanted to run it back, while Dana White insisted she wanted no more of “Lioness.”
Nevertheless, Cris is looking to start fresh under Coker and Co’s guidance, though she will have be competing with her old employer for numbers when her debut date rolls around.