Former Invicta Fighting Championships Featherweight Champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino hasn’t been seen inside the Octagon since UFC Fight Night 95.
The frustrated fighter has now given an ultimatum to the UFC, either book her for a fight or release her so she can fight elsewhere.
She vented her frustrations on her Twitter:
2 weeks my manager call @seanshelby about my next fight but no news! @ufc if you don't want to fight me, release me! #letsgochamp @danawhite pic.twitter.com/E5uzl9Z36l
— #UFC214 #LetsGoChamp (@criscyborg) April 14, 2017
Cyborg has been clamoring for an opportunity for a UFC Women’s Featherweight Title fight against Germaine De Randamie, but the champion is debating on whether or not to get hand surgery. We've not heard from the Champion in weeks.
Even though she wants a shot at the UFC Women’s Featherweight Title, it will not come in the form of a interim championship.
“I don’t want an interim belt. ... belts are for the promoter,” Cyborg said to BJPenn.com. “There are men fighters who haven’t defended their belt for much longer without having an interim title made in their division, and the women athletes should be given the same luxury.”
Weight cuts have affected the fighter, which is why she has been on the sidelines as well.
Aforementioned health issues have also caused De Randamie to sit on the sidelines, but Cyborg is willing to wait through those for a shot at the gold.
“When the UFC asked me last January to fight her for the belt, I explained to them I would, but needed a March date because my body was still recovering from two weight cuts to 140 pounds. So I know what it is like to want to accept the fight but needing additional time to heal,” Cyborg said. “After recently vacating my Invicta 145-pound belt, I also know what it is like to have a world championship that you want to defend and not being given the opportunity to do so. If [De Randamie] is not healthy enough to defend her belt, she should be given time to heal completely and fight me after that has happened.”
In her two previous appearances, the former Invicta FC Featherweight Champion defeated both Leslie Smith and Lina Lansberg.
