UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino was in attendance this past weekend at Bellator 192.
Bellator MMA President Scott Coker says there is nothing to read between the lines in this situation, just a fighter who came to see the action on Saturday Night.
“She had just texted me and said, ‘Hey, I want to come (to the fights),'” Coker told MMA Junkie. “She lives in L.A., (and) she’s always welcome to any of our fights that we do. She’s been around, she’s a legend, she’s a pioneer of female fighting. She used to fight for me (in Strikeforce), so we always had a good relationship. She wanted to come to the fights, and it was really that simple … I said, ‘Yeah, come over.'”
Cyborg is a former Strikeforce Women’s Featherweight Champion, which is where the business relationship with Coker began.
Coker didn’t get to speak with Cyborg at the event, but she did text a request for the Bellator MMA President.
“She did text me one thing before she left,” Coker said. “She said, ‘Stop taking all the girls (into Bellator).’ I just laughed. She’s under contract (with the UFC). We’re not going to interfere with anybody’s contract. We have plenty of fighters we’re booking and fighting. We have our hands full with this (heavyweight) tournament. So to me, it was just tongue in cheek.”
While Cyborg is the current UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion, it is Julia Budd who holds the Bellator MMA version of the title.
