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After defeating Holly Holm at UFC 219, UFC women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg maintained that her primary goal was defending the title against worthy 145 pound opposition, instead of a superfight against bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes like many had been clamoring for. Now it seems like Cyborg might be coming around to the idea.
Cyborg announced Monday that her and her management had agreed to a superfight with Nunes at UFC 226 on July 7th.
I have agreed with my management to fight @Amanda_Leoa #ufc226 July 7th in Las Vegas during international fight week. I will let her finalize her side of the bout now. pic.twitter.com/w5YIYYRGV5
— #CYBORGVsNUNES #UFC226 (@criscyborg) January 23, 2018
“I have agreed with my management to fight Amanda Nunes at #ufc226, July 7th in Las Vegas during international fight week. I will let her finalize her side of the bout now.”
Cyborg has previously said that a super-fight with Nunes has less appeal to her because Nunes isn’t a big pay-per-view draw so if they were to fight, she wanted it to be as part of a big event and, per Ariel Helwani via Combate, the UFC had originally been targeting UFC 224 in May for the super-fight to coincide with the organization’s return to Rio de Janeiro. Instead, Cyborg wanted the fight moved to International Fight Week as it provides the “bigger stage.” It would appear the UFC is at least considering this move, though Nunes’ girlfriend, Nina Ansaroff, disputed that Nunes had been offered the fight, kicking off a back-and-forth with Cyborg on Twitter.
We still good with Vegas @Amanda_Leoa and Coach @ConanSilveira pic.twitter.com/R6eevjo0bS
— #CYBORGVsNUNES #UFC226 (@criscyborg) January 23, 2018
— Nina Ansaroff (@NinaAnsaroff) January 23, 2018
Amanda said she will fight me in Vegas. I have agreed. Nothing fake about this.
— #CYBORGVsNUNES #UFC226 (@criscyborg) January 23, 2018
I think I would know if she said that. ♀️
— Nina Ansaroff (@NinaAnsaroff) January 23, 2018
Sorry I know English my 2nd language. Did I miss read? pic.twitter.com/EFMIGg1B92
— #CYBORGVsNUNES #UFC226 (@criscyborg) January 23, 2018
That was just an interview saying she would fight u anywhere, doesn’t matter. Nothing was offered on when and where.
— Nina Ansaroff (@NinaAnsaroff) January 23, 2018
Not trying to start anything here. When everyone comes to an agreement it will be a great fight!
— Nina Ansaroff (@NinaAnsaroff) January 23, 2018
July 7th #ufc226 ✍ @Amanda_Leoa @ConanSilveira I chose Vegas. https://t.co/sIjyjxUhkk
— #CYBORGVsNUNES #UFC226 (@criscyborg) January 23, 2018
Cool. I’ll let everyone know
— Nina Ansaroff (@NinaAnsaroff) January 23, 2018
Nunes has been keen on a superfight with Cyborg for some time now, saying, ahead of UFC 219, that she would like to fight the winner of Cyborg-Holm. After the event, when UFC President Dana White called Cyborg-Nunes “the fight to make,” Nunes began calling for the bout in earnest, and now it could come to fruition. If it does though, it leaves one interested party missing out, Invicta featherweight champion Megan Anderson.
Anderson was previously scheduled to face Cyborg for the vacant UFC women’s featherweight title but was forced to withdraw from the event for personal reasons and hasn’t fought since. With all the Cyborg-Nunes talk on social media yesterday, Anderson got reeled into the discussion and ended up having her own heated engagement with Cyborg over potentially fighting at UFC 226 if Nunes is unable or unwilling to fight Cyborg then.
1 year... Get your facts straight please people and I'll be fighting soon.
— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) January 23, 2018
Megan I was told by the @ufc you would not be fighting anytime soon. Is that a lie?
— #CYBORGVsNUNES #UFC226 (@criscyborg) January 23, 2018
When will @MeganA_mma be ready to fight? @Mickmaynard2 @ufc? She deserves the next chance at the belt. https://t.co/WdxSrV7LJy
— #CYBORGVsNUNES #UFC226 (@criscyborg) January 23, 2018
Well since you're apparently fighting Nunes, when I return in a few months, I want a fight.
— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) January 23, 2018
You will be ready to fight before July? @Mickmaynard2 @ufc? I was told you were not going to be active by then. https://t.co/PR6EWn7rux
— #CYBORGVsNUNES #UFC226 (@criscyborg) January 23, 2018
Interesting Don't know where that came from...
— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) January 23, 2018
Looks like @MeganA_mma is going to be ready to fight sooner than expected @Mickmaynard2 @ufc https://t.co/PR6EWn7rux
— #CYBORGVsNUNES #UFC226 (@criscyborg) January 23, 2018
If I don’t fight @Amanda_Leoa in July, are you ready to go by then @MeganA_mma? @Mickmaynard2 https://t.co/ZKOazN2e6e
— #CYBORGVsNUNES #UFC226 (@criscyborg) January 23, 2018
/crickets
— #CYBORGVsNUNES #UFC226 (@criscyborg) January 23, 2018
Ray Elbe... This is Twitter. The UFC has a HQ. I suggest you do business there and talk to them like my management are... https://t.co/sb3ehmHnKQ
— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) January 23, 2018
I don’t think asking when you will be able to fight is unprofessional. My management has been told you’re not back by July. Is that false? Are you ready to fight by then?
— #CYBORGVsNUNES #UFC226 (@criscyborg) January 23, 2018
Don't know where you're getting that information from.
— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) January 23, 2018
You want to talk business @MeganA_mma? I didn’t come to USA on a tourist visa to work illegally then have personal issues so I could marry and stay in America!! @uscis https://t.co/J72mbsCAqS
— #CYBORGVsNUNES #UFC226 (@criscyborg) January 23, 2018
For people that don’t know I immigrated to the USA in 2008 without speaking English. In 2010 I got my green card and in 2016 I became a citizen. I followed all the rules even though I had to learn English and the legal steps on immigration. pic.twitter.com/aUQIcqHZys
— #CYBORGVsNUNES #UFC226 (@criscyborg) January 23, 2018
With no official word from the UFC, it’s hard to tell how everything will shake out with all of this but Cris Cyborg is certainly doing her best to be an active champion.
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