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Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
Sport
Chuck Schilken

'Cyborg' Justino: Fighting Ronda Rousey more important than UFC title

May 04--Ronda Rousey vs. Cristiane "Cyborg" Justino.

It's the fight many MMA fans want to see, with many people convinced that Invicta FC 145-pound champion Justino is the only female fighter who has a shot at beating UFC bantamweight champion Rousey.

Count Cyborg as one of those people, if for no other reason than she would finally stop hearing about it.

"It's annoying," the Brazilian fighter said Friday on Fox Sports 1's "UFC Tonight." "I hear every day, 'Ronda Rousey, Ronda Rousey,' you know?"

The recent UFC signee added: "Of course I want to be champion one day of UFC. But I think for now it would be great [if] everybody can watch me and Ronda Rousey. I think it [would be a] great fight. I think it's more important. I have [an Invicta FC world featherweight] belt already. I don't [want] her belt, just make fight happen."

So why hasn't it become a reality yet? Well, Justino fights at 145 pounds, Rousey at 135. And folks at UFC seem to have made it pretty clear that Cyborg is going to have to drop down to Rousey's weight class before the dream match can take place.

Justino said Friday she'll "try 100%" to make it down to 135 -- although she finished the interview with a request aimed at Rousey to make it a little easier.

"Let's go fight," Justino said. "Let's go meet at 140."

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