Former UFC women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg is in talks with the world’s top MMA promotion about a new contract, according to her representative Audie Attar, who talked to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani on his MMA show. Cyborg has one fight left on her contract following her shocking KO loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 232, but her and her representatives have been clear with the UFC that they are interested in a reunion.
According to Attar, Cyborg expects to fight at UFC 237, which takes place this May in Curitiba, Brazil. The principal event of this event will be headlined by UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas carrying on No. 1 contender Jessica Andrade, also it makes a lot of sense to pump up the undercard with a fighter of Cyborg’s popularity and name worth, especially in Brazil. If Cyborg does fight in UFC 237, that will be the final battle on her contract, even as he’s only 1 battle left it without any winner’s clause due to losing the belt.
The UFC will be smart to bring back Cyborg on a new deal. She has proven to be a bit of a pay-per-view draw in a time when the UFC needs fighters who market shows, and although she will not be economical to re-sign, she’s shown to be well worth the price. As far as women’s fighters go, there are not many more intriguing fighters than Cyborg and there sure are not many with considerably more title worth than she’s. The UFC absolutely should re-sign her as long as the request is appropriate.
Although it would be wonderful to see Cyborg receive a rematch with Nunes seeing as though she had been on a 13-year win streak before dropping her belt in upset fashion, it is very unlikely Nunes would take this fight. The rumor is that Nunes would like to fight Holly Holm alongside for the UFC women’s bantamweight championship, which would leave Cyborg without a upcoming logical competitor. There are not a lot of featherweights in the UFC right now, but both that do stand out are Megan Anderson and Cat Zingano. Anderson just beat Zingano in controversial fashion after a toenail sliced her attention and the fight was stopped in the first round at UFC 232, but Anderson did catch her hands raised. If the UFC desired to perform Cyborg against Anderson in Brazil, that is a fight that produces a whole lot of sense.
Cyborg will fight out that last battle of her contract, however if she will enter free agency, she will have a lot of suitors. Evidently, Bellator would require a run at her as her ex-Strikeforce promoter Scott Coker is in control of the company. But I would guess RIZIN and ONE would also have a run at her, not to mention the WWE, Golden Boy MMA as well as some boxing promotions. Basically, Cyborg will have plenty of options to select from. However, if her agent has been sincere, she would like to return to the UFC, and it might be excellent to get MMA fans if that is what occurs.
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