Cris Cyborg has decided to vacate her Invicta FC title and is looking unseat Germaine de Randamie as the current title holder at 145 pounds in the UFC.
After losing her first professional fight in 2005, Cyborg has gone undefeated in her last 17 fights and feels that she has earned the opportunity to fight for the title in the UFC.
It’s difficult to make the case against her being the top contender to challenge Randamie in her first title defense.
Cyborg made an explicit reference to the hand injury that Randamie sustained during her title victory against Holly Holm. Following the victory in February, Randamie stated that she might need surgery to repair the hand and provided no timetable for when she might be able to return.
Cyborg hopes it is sooner than later: “So Germaine, I hope your hand’s healthy enough to accept my challenge.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d43P3E7eslY
In her statement, Cyborg frequently thanked Invicta FC for the opportunity they gave her to prove that women belong in the cage.
“When I signed with Invicta, I wanted to help for we can prove the women can be the real fighters and they can play combat sports. Like me, like Carla Esparza, Claudia Gadelha, Amanda Nunes and all the women in the cage now just prove it. Invicta has the best women’s fighters in the world,” Cyborg said.
When she will get her chance at the title is more a matter of when, not if.
Cyborg has taken a definitive step towards getting her title shot by vacating her belt at Invicta FC. It appears that Randamie’s hand is the only variable that might keep this fight from happening.
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Photo Credit: Instagram/@criscyborg