UFC rumors: 'Cyborg' Justino wins debut but will she return? [VIDEO]
Former Strikeforce featherweight champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Justino left a first good impression on UFC fans during her debut on Saturday night at UFC 198.
The Brazilian fighter stopped opponent Leslie Smith inside 81 seconds, winning via technical knockout during their 140-pound catch-weight fight in Curitiba, Brazil. After the fight, Cyborg says she still plans to defend her Invicta FC featherweight title, which is under Zuffa LLC.
"I'm Invicta champion. I want to defend my belt, or I can fight catchweight in the UFC," Justino said in an ESPN report.
After a successful UFC debut, mixed martial arts fans are in anticipation on how Cyborg will do further in her UFC career. The 30-year old fighter had already laid out her plans following the win, but she made it clear that she will not drop down to 135-pounds.
The UFC has yet to open up a featherweight division at 145-pounds, with the bantamweight division ten pounds below as the heaviest weight class for female fighters. After her win, bantamweight champion Miesha Tate expressed her intent to meet inside the cage sometime in the future.
"Impressive performance by @criscyborg tonight!! What a powerful woman! Congrats on making 139lbs! 4 more and we can have a title fight!" Tate's tweet reads.
For her part, Justino says she is willing to take on any other fight, but remains adamant in staying put at her weight class, at 145-pounds.
"I believe I can do other super fights. But I'm going to continue in my weight class," said Justino, who weighed in at 149 pounds on weigh-in day. "I've been a champion for some time, and I want female MMA to grow, and I don't think it's the right thing for me to abandon my weight class."
With the victory, Justino improves to a record of 16-1, and one no contest, with 14 wins by stoppage.
