Despite initially refusing to create a women’s featherweight division, UFC President Dana White recently announced to Fox Sports Australia that the women’s featherweight division will be coming to the promotion in 2017.
There is an interesting catch to this story though and it is something that White addresses, which is the division will be starting off with or without Invicta FC Featherweight Champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino.
"She was offered two fights at 145 pounds, she turned them both down," White said. "The first fight, she said she only had eight weeks and that wasn't enough time to make 145 pounds. And then she gave no reason for the second time. But the answer is yes. The answer is yes, we're going to make a 145-pound division, whether it's with Cyborg or not."
It was recently revealed that Cyborg had turned down two fights offered to her by the UFC, something she addressed with MMA Fighting.
"The next day (after UFC Fight Night 95), like I always do after my fights, I did blood tests to see if everything was okay after a terrible weight cut," Cyborg said. "And for the first time, the nurses couldn't take my blood, it was so thick it wouldn't come out, so we couldn't do tests. I was in treatment for 10 days with Dr. Ulisseia. I was in observation because I was feeling sick all the time. I told [the UFC] I can fight anyone in March, but I need to take care of my body, and no mention of the fact that I'm dealing with severe depression and can't have another brutal weight cut like before. This decision is more important than the belt or the division, I'm thinking about my health."
There is no debut date set yet for the division or when the inaugural champion will be crowned, or whomever will be competing in the division, more on the division is expected to be announced early next year.
