Cris “Cyborg” Justino is coming back!
After a few months of uncertainty, the former Strikeforce featherweight champion, current Invicta FC featherweight champion and longtime arch-rival to Ronda Rousey confirmed that she will be returning to the Octagon.
When? September 24 at UFC Fight Night 95. Where? Brasilia, Brazil. At what weight? If a report from Brazil’s UOL is to believed, 140 pounds (via Sherdog.com’s Mike Sloan).
Against who? Well, that’s where things get less interesting…
Cyborg confirmed UOL’s initial report on social media by posting that she would face Lina “Elbow Princess” Lansberg. A featherweight from the European circuit, she owns a 6-1 professional record (with four wins coming via knockout) against a relatively standard mix of regional-level opposition.
While Lansberg is an interesting talent, the bout is a bit of a disappointment. Cyborg is widely regarded as both a pioneer of women’s MMA and one of the pound-for-pound best today, owning a 16-1 (1) record, with her sole loss coming all the way back in 2005.
Despite that success, the UFC long refused to bring her into the company in any permanent fashion, leaving her in Strikeforce following Zuffa’s acquisition of the promotion in 2011 and then bringing her aboard only to plug her into Invicta.
When she finally debuted in the Octagon in May at UFC 198 against Leslie Smith, it naturally led to a great deal of discussion about what Cyborg would be capable of in the UFC, and what kind of matchups would be there for her. Unfortunately, despite the fact that Cyborg has been angling for top names in the UFC such as former champs Rousey and Miesha Tate, she will instead face an unheralded newcomer in Lansberg.
Still, Cyborg is a unique commodity and a must-watch attraction, regardless of the opposition. It will be interesting to see if she can post yet another dominant performance, despite facing a grueling cut down to 140 pounds.
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