'Cris Cyborg' Prepared To Leave UFC if Featherweight Division is Eliminated

Cristiane Justino, better known as “Cris Cyborg,” has suggested she may be forced to leave the Ultimate Fighting Championship if the promotion decides to remove the women’s featherweight division.

Last month at UFC 232, “Cyborg” suffered a stunning loss, falling via knockout to bantamweight champ Amanda Nunes in under a minute. With the win, Nunes went on to become the first woman in UFC history to simultaneously hold belts in two weight divisions. Justino called for an immediate rematch with Nunes, but the request seems to have fallen on deaf ears with UFC President Dana White not in favor of the fight due to the nature of Nunes’ victory.

With that in mind, “Cyborg” is now at a crossroads regarding her future with the UFC, especially as her contract is set to expire soon. The former featherweight champ told Brazilian outlet Portal do Vale Tudo that if the UFC let her go it would be a loss for the promotion (translation via MMA Fighting):

”I don’t know what they will do moving forward,” Cyborg said. “I will keep fighting no matter where I am. My fans love watching my fights. If they decide to remove my division, and remove me from the UFC and let me go, I think the UFC would be losing with that, and the promotion that signs me would be winning. My fans follow me wherever I go.

“I’m very thankful because my fans are with me no matter if I win or lose. I want to continue working. The UFC is a great platform to continue (building) my division. I think that even Amanda felt good at 145, other fighters have as well, because they don’t hurt (their bodies) that much, but that’s out of my control.

“My manager will meet them and see what’s the next step, but if they decide to remove the division, I will definitely continue shining somewhere else, like I’ve always done. Let’s see what happens.”