Cris Cyborg, former UFC featherweight champion, left the UFC after suffering a brutal knockout loss to Amanda Nunes. Cyborg since moved to Bellator, where she currently reigns as featherweight champion, and will make her professional boxing debut against Simone Silva at Fight Music Show 2 on Sept. 25. Regardless of what happens next, Cyborg won’t be returning to the UFC for a Nunes rematch, telling MMA Junkie that “that chapter is closed”.
“I’m not done, you know this is the one fight boxing fight and no, I’m back to my MMA way,” she explained. “You know I really love to work with Bellator as their champion. I gotta have more to say when after this fight done you know, I’m gonna sit down and you’re gonna see what’s the next step?
Cyborg Won’t Return to the UFC: “That Chapter is Closed”
No, no, I never talked to PFL or Dawn or sit down about the negotiation, everything is just online. That chapter [UFC] is closed. They really don’t want to make the fights they want me to make, and they really don’t want to pay the fighters. So, if they start to pay the fighters, then maybe we can sit down, but I believe I have to think about my future than just think about my ego.”
UFC president Dana White echoed the sentiment. White, when asked about the likelihood of a Nunes vs Cyborg rematch, expressed minimal interest in the prospect.
“Amanda absolutely dominated Cyborg. The Shevchenko fight makes way more sense, and I’m not just sh*tting on Cyborg because we’ve had history.
To be honest with you, I usually don’t talk about this sh*t publicly – you know what I always say; I don’t tell you guys anything. But she actually texted me and wished me a happy birthday for my birthday.
It’s not like Cyborg and I hate each other and I’m not trying to discredit her or be mean to her. I wish her the best in whatever she’s doing. It was nice of her to send me a birthday text. So I just wanted to reiterate that I am not sh*tting on Cyborg.”
Cris Cyborg, now 37, is entering the final years of her stellar career. She has long been one of the biggest names in women’s MMA, and has often reiterated that she wants to defend her title as well as establish herself in boxing.
Do you think we’ve seen the last of Cris Cyborg in the Octagon? Let us know in the comments.
