Coach: Kayla Harrison Would Submit Cris Cyborg ‘For Sure’

American Top Team head trainer Marcus “Conan” Silveira has high hopes for two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison and 13-time world jiu-jitsu champion Marcus Almeida.

Silveira is confident that Harrison, a two-time Professional Fighters League champion and perhaps the biggest free agent in MMA, is already a difficult matchup for Bellator featherweight queen Cristiane Justino.

"I have no doubt that Kayla would be a terrible matchup for Cris,” Silveira told Sherdog.com. “Cyborg has been doing the same game since she started in MMA, so it wouldn't be a problem for Kayla to take her down. If that fight happens today, I would say that Kayla would submit Cris for sure.”

Almeida, meanwhile, is 2-0 under the One Championship banner since making the transition to MMA, with a pair of first-round submission victories to his credit. Silveira says Almeida isn’t ready to face top-level competition just yet, but that time is arriving quickly.

“I'm really impressed with how ‘Buchecha’ is evolving, and I have no doubt this kid will go far,” Silveira siad. “He arrived here as an MMA beginner and is already sparring with some of our best heavyweights. He didnt win 13 world jiu-jitsu titles by chance.

“This kid works hard and has a great team sense. He helps everybody, so everybody likes him and are glad to support him. He is learning fast and I truly believe that, step by step, he will go far.”