Cris Cyborg is glad she parted ways with the UFC to work under Bellator’s banner.
The current Bellator featherweight champion could not be any happier where she is. Following a three-year stint in the UFC, during which she picked up six wins in seven outings, Cris Cyborg did not enjoy her time in the world’s biggest promotion and is glad to not work for Dana White any longer.
In an interview with Ag Fight, Cyborg explained why she did not like working with the UFC as opposed to Bellator. The way Cristiane explains it, the former promotion just does not show the level of respect or appreciation she believes fighters deserve, while her new home and president do.
“We (her and Bellator president Scott Coker) are partners at work. We want to grow together. That’s how it works. The relationship I and many other athletes had with Dana White, Jon Jones to name one, isn’t a partnership. People want to take advantage of other athletes. Without athletes, there is no show.
“The best thing I did for my career was leave the UFC.” Cyborg continued. “I have a different direction for my future. Anything between me and Dana White is going to be trouble, because he doesn’t like when people stand up to him. He likes people who say ‘amen’ to him and that’s not me. I have my principles and I stand by them. You don’t have to accept it, but you have to respect it.”
On a three-fight winning streak in the Bellator cage, Cyborg (24-2-1 NC) scored wins over Julia Budd, Arlene Blencowe and Leslie Smith since her transition. The 35-year-old left the UFC after a unanimous decision victory over Felicia Spencer, in July 2019. Her last loss happened in December 2018, when she got knocked out by Amanda Nunes.