Midnight Mania! Cyborg is interested in Zuffa boxing- “Why not?”

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We live in a strange version of reality. Cris “Cyborg” Justino, already the UFC women’s featherweight champion, faces former boxing cha…

Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

We live in a strange version of reality. Cris “Cyborg” Justino, already the UFC women’s featherweight champion, faces former boxing champion Holly Holm at UFC 219. Holm, ironically, is already on record saying she isn’t interested in boxing again for Zuffa, which is Dana White’s project to expand into the boxing world. Floyd Mayweather, meanwhile, is reportedly really interested in a UFC fight, doubtless against Conor McGregor for one last payday.

Cyborg, meanwhile, says she would like the challenge of pure boxing.

You know, I just hear about the UFC want to make a boxing promotion. I would like to fight boxing, and if maybe they had the opportunity, why not? I’m young, I can train it. I like challenging myself, if I had the opportunity to fight one day in boxing, why not? Just keep training and learning each time.

She has been sparring with several professional boxers in preparation for Holm, including Mia St. John and Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields. She spoke about how she sees her relationship with Shields as an alliance that helps grow women’s presence in combat sports in general, whether boxing or MMA.

Cyborg has tried her hand at other combat sports before, to mixed results. She fought a few Muay Thai bouts, eventually running up against the limits of her skillset, as she was roundly schooled by Jorina Baars in 2014. She has been working and learning since then, and boxing is another sport entirely. If Zuffa Boxing really does take off, Cyborg might just get the chance to show off her talents in a third combat sport.

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A post shared by Rose Namajunas (@rosenamajunas) on

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