Featherweight Champ Cris ‘Cyborg’ Calls for UFC 219 Showdown vs. Holly Holm on Dec. 30
Cristiane Justino apparently has a one-track mind when it comes to her next opponent.
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“I just called my manager…and told him I want to fight [Holly Holm at] UFC 219 in Las Vegas,” Justino wrote. “If you want to see this fight New Year’s, now is the time to send your messages to [the UFC and Dana White].
Justino claimed the vacant 145-pound belt with a third-round
technical knockout of former Invicta FC bantamweight queen Tonya
Evinger on July 29. The 32-year-old Brazilian was initially
scheduled to face Megan
Anderson at the event in Anaheim, Calif., but Anderson was
forced to withdraw from the bout due to undisclosed personal
issues.
Shortly after vanquishing Evinger, Justino set her sights on Holm, who skyrocketed to stardom with a second-round knockout of Ronda Rousey in November 2015.
My next move I would like to fight Holly Holm. I think she is a great fighter, and she is a bigger girl like me,” Justino said. “She’s fought already at 145. I think it’s a fight the fans will like because she’s a striker. Let’s do that, maybe next. I don’t know.”
At the time, White also seemed to like the idea.
“I was just talking to Holly Holm…It seems like she’s interested,” White said. “I like Holly vs. Cyborg. I think it’s a good fight.”
Holm last appeared at UFC Fight Night 111 on June 17, when she knocked out Bethe Correia with a head kick at bantamweight to end a three-bout skid. The Jackson-Wink MMA standout came up short in a bid for the inaugural women’s featherweight crown, losing a five-round verdict against Germaine de Randamie at UFC 208 in February.
The UFC traditionally stages one of its biggest cards of the year around New Year’s Eve. Last year, Amanda Nunes stopped Ronda Rousey in the main event of UFC 206 on Dec. 30 to retain the women’s bantamweight strap. UFC 219 is set to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. No bouts have been announced for the event.
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