The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

The UFC needs to pay Cris Cyborg back after saving UFC 222

Roar Rookie
18th February, 2018
Advertisement
Cris Cyborg. Part woman. Part machine.
Roar Rookie
18th February, 2018
5

With her recent successful title defence against legitimate featherweight contender, Holly Holm, Cris Cyborg took a big step in building her featherweight division.

Her upcoming title defence against relatively unknown, Yana Kunitskaya is a big step backwards.

UFC 222 was left in limbo after Max Holloway was forced to pull out of his main event title defence with Frankie Edgar due to an ankle injury. The event was almost rebranded as a free Fox Sports show after there were no realistic title fights to save the pay per view.

The event will now go ahead as planned after the Brazilian agreed to put her featherweight title on the line against the former Invicta FC bantamweight champion, Kunitskaya who oddsmakers have as a 10-1 underdog.

While it would have made more sense to rebook the event as a free ‘Fight Night’ with Edgar taking on fast-rising contender Brian Ortega in a non-title main event, the organisation asked Cyborg to save the pay per view.

Although this makeshift main event makes little competitive sense, the UFC is expecting fans to pay just to see the Brazilian Juggernaut put on yet another destructive performance.

The offer for UFC 222 was far from Cyborg’s plans as she seeks to cement herself as the Queen of a legitimate featherweight division. Holly Holm has been the only real featherweight she has fought in the UFC as she has easily destroyed smaller bantamweights in catchweight bouts.

While the fight offers little for Cyborg’s legacy, for her, it shows that she can be a company woman and build a better relationship with her employer.

Advertisement

“When [the UFC] called saying they needed a new main event, we saw this as an opportunity to prove to everyone that Cris Cyborg can be a company girl and that I’m willing to step up when the promotion needs it” said Cyborg in a recent interview with the LA times.

Cyborg has been frustrated by the slow growth of her newly minted women’s featherweight division as well as her promotion and marketing.

The organisation has previously stated they are seeking a super fight with bantamweight champion, Amanda Nunes. However, Cyborg openly stated she wanted to see her division grow against suitable opposition as opposed to a short-term money fight.

She has actively sought fights against genuine featherweight contenders such as Australian, Megan Anderson. The inaugural champion, Germaine de Randamie refused to defend against her, citing Cyborg’s past use of performance enhancing substances. In the age of extreme USADA testing, that argument did not fly and the UFC rightly stripped her of the title.

The fact that the UFC will seek to match the Brazilian knock-out artist against bantamweights or try to make short-sighted super fights and expect fans to pay just for her star power, has caused some angst between Cyborg and the UFC brass.

She has longed for the promotion to put energy behind the featherweight roster and bring in some more suitable competition. But she now appears willing to put that behind her and show them she can be a team player.

By proving she can take the high road and help them when they need it most, Cyborg deserves for the UFC to listen to her concerns, and help her build a strong women’s featherweight division.

Advertisement

Although she has solidified herself as one of the most destructive forces in Women’s MMA she will only be remembered as the greatest featherweight pioneer if she can fight and defend against the best female featherweights.

It is now up to the UFC to find and nurture that talent and bring them to the Octagon. Cris Cyborg will be waiting.

close