‘Cyborg’ Says Invicta Title Defense Next, Denies Reported Catch-Weight Bout at UFC 201

According to a report from UFC Tonight on Wednesday, a 140-pound catch-weight bout between Cristiane Justino and Germaine de Randamie is in the works for UFC 201.

Justino has other ideas, however. “Cyborg” took to social media to emphatically deny the report, claiming that her next fight will be a 145-pound title defense under the Invicta Fighting Championships banner.

“I’m a champion at 145 [pounds]. The UFC doesn’t have my division; that’s fine!” Justino wrote on Twitter. “But they don’t have the right to erase my division.  No point in trying to manipulate my fans, I’ll be defending my belt next fight! I’ve proven I can make 140 [pounds]. I did my part. It was very hard to make 140 [pounds]. I had to train [three] times a day, and I’m doing a documentary that will soon be online for you to see. In all the press I had to do for my last fight I couldn’t take my belt to show I’m champion. I was forbidden.”

De Randamie was reportedly offered the fight against Justino at UFC 198, but instead elected to remain on the card at UFC Fight Night in her native Netherlands, where she earned a first-round stoppage of Anna Elmose on May 8. Meanwhile, Justino earned a technical knockout victory over Leslie Smith at 140 pounds this past Saturday.

UFC 201 takes place at Phillips Arena in Atlanta on July 30 and is headlined by a welterweight title bout between Robbie Lawler and Tyron Woodley.