If Cris Cyborg is released from her UFC contract, she’s already got one suitor for her next deal.
Reached for comment on UFC president Dana White’s stated plan to make Cyborg an unrestricted free agent, Bellator president Scott Coker told MMA Junkie, “That’s great news. I’ll be calling (Cyborg’s manager) Audie (Attar) in the next five minutes.”
Coker clarified he’ll first make sure White’s words are followed by an actual release. The Bellator boss, who promoted several Cyborg fights when he ran Strikeforce, has hedged at jumping the gun in cases where high-profile free agents are within a matching period that allows the UFC to retain them.
In this case, White claims that won’t be an issue because he’s releasing all claims to the former featherweight champ. Typically, there’s a 90-day window in which the UFC retains the right to exclusive negotiation, and 90 days where other promoters can make offers.
In an extended interview with UFC video talent Laura Sanko, White claimed Cyborg’s repeated accusations of mistreatment are a “smoke screen” for her desire to duck a fight with Amanda Nunes, who captured the featherweight title this past December with a vicious KO.
Cyborg claims she immediately requested a rematch with Nunes and denies she’s avoiding any fights. She counters that White is trying to shoehorn her into a new contract by levying the charge that she’s scared.
Coker, who promoted Cyborg under the now-defunct Strikeforce banner, called White’s claim that the ex-champ is scared “ridiculous.”
“I don’t even know what to say about that,” he said. “Cyborg isn’t afraid of anybody.”
