Former UFC featherweight champion Cris Cyborg talks about her career while she gets ready to take on Felicia Spencer in Canada.
Former UFC female featherweight champion Cristiane Justino is ready to move on with her career. After losing her title to Amanda Nunes in a 51-second KO loss back in December 2019, ‘Cyborg’ was eager to get an instant rematch against the first woman to beat her since her MMA debut, back in 2005 – but now not so much anymore.
In an interview with Tatame, Cyborg talked about her legacy and pointed out all the ups and downs that are usually involved in an MMA career and how the hard times can help a fighter mature and improve. Furthermore, Cris’ upcoming bout against Felicia Spencer will be the last one before she fulfills her current UFC contract, but Justino is still unsure what she will do once the deal is over.
“My career had its ups and downs, but I think this helps us mature, improve as a person and become a role model for other people. There is nothing personal between the UFC and me. I see it as a business, so the decisions we make, what I do, what will happen, it certainly will be good for me. I’m not thinking about that right now (future in the UFC). I’m really focused on my next fight.
“I’ve fought for many companies, EliteXC, I was a Strikeforce champion, Invicta FC champion, UFC champion, I don’t think the UFC is any different than any other company that I fought for before. They made my story and my career stronger. Everybody already knew who Cris Cyborg was before I joined the UFC, so I brought my fans with me when I joined the UFC. My fans campaigned for me to be in the UFC and I’m happy about that. My story doesn’t end, it goes on. Just like I’ve been in many organizations before, I could keep on fighting for the UFC, too. Let’s see what happens.”
As for the long-awaited rematch with Amanda Nunes, Cyborg might have given up on asking for it, but should the UFC offers her a chance, she would not turn it down. While opportunity doesn’t present itself, however, Cris just plans to keep on building her legacy.
“The first thing I did after my last fight was to ask for a rematch. I asked Dana White and he publicly said he wouldn’t give me an immediate rematch. Amanda Nunes also said that maybe after two years (the rematch could happen), but life goes on. That won’t stop my legacy nor my work. If (the fight) is supposed to happen, it’ll happen. It’s not up to just me. If it were, it would have had happened, because that was the first thing I asked for after the fight. Everyone knows that it doesn’t change my legacy. I lost my MMA debut and that only made me stronger so I could get where I am. I believe there still is much more to come.”
Cris Cyborg is expected to take on Felicia Spencer at UFC 240’s co-main event, on July 27, in Edmonton, Canada. The card will be headlined by a featherweight title fight between the champion, Max Holloway, and former lightweight titleholder Frankie Edgar.