The stars of Bellator 226 paid tribute to the newest member of the “Bellator family” as they hailed the signing of former Strikeforce, Invicta and UFC women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg.
Cyborg (21-2) was introduced to the crowd last weekend at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., and had the chance to meet some of her adoring fans as the Brazilian star made official her arrival as a Bellator fighter.
In a special video by Bellator broadcast partner DAZN, a host of Bellator 226 fighters shared their takes on Cyborg’s arrival, with two-division champ Ryan Bader leading the plaudits.
“I love seeing Cyborg coming over,” Bader said. “She knows what she’s getting into. She’s worked with Scott Coker in the past, and it’s a great atmosphere (with) a lot of tough fights for her. She’s been here, done that, and we’re gonna see more and more big-name people coming over, so congratulations to her.”
Other stars weighed in, too, with featherweights Tywan Claxton and Pedro Carvalho hailing her signing as “a huge pickup for Bellator” and “really good business,” respectively.
Bellator veterans Derek Campos and Emmanuel Sanchez have racked 29 appearances in the Bellator cage between them, so both men are well qualified to comment on what Cyborg can expect with her new promotion.
Campos threw a little shade at the UFC.
“For her to be treated like the way she was in her previous organization was a bit unfair,” Campos said. “But she’s in the right place now, obviously, and I think it just shows the kind of promotion that we’re all with right now, where we’re going together as a Bellator family.”
Meanwhile, Sanchez said that, as the most decorated female fighter in MMA history, Cyborg deserves all the success that comes her way in Bellator. “I want her to get everything that she deserves: all the promotion, all the buzz, all the finances etc. because she deserves it. She’s a monster, she’s a beast, she’s been on top for years, and she’s a legend.”
Cyborg hasn’t fought for Bellator before, but she’s fought for Coker plenty of times, having previously held the Strikeforce title, and her arrival backstage at Bellator 226 was greeted more like a homecoming than a new arrival, as she explained.
“It’s a family, yes,” she said. “Everybody looks at me and says, ‘Welcome back home,’ because the people here I’ve worked with before (in Strikeforce), and I’m just thankful for the opportunity to work here.”
The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.
