Invicta FC president Shannon Knapp isn’t closing the door on Cris “Cyborg” Justino competing again for her all-female promotion.
While it was announced on Monday that Justino (15-1) will make her Octagon debut at UFC 198 vs. Leslie Smith, Knapp told MMAFighting.com that she is not considering vacating her featherweight title at the moment.
Justino won the title in 2013 with a fourth round TKO vs. Marloes Coenen and has successfully defended it three times since. All three bout have ended inside of the first round.
“Anything is always up to (the UFC and Justino), so it could be whatever,” Knapp said. “I think this is probably a situation, too, where they’re trying it out. Who knows? I am not quite sure what the long-term plan is or if anybody does at this point.
“Cris has expressed interest in coming back and defending her belt. At this point, it is not vacated.”
Justino and Smith will be competing at 140 pounds in May. Zuffa, which owns and operates the UFC, added Invicta FC to Fight Pass last year.