Not too long ago, current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) womens Bantamweight champion, Amanda Nunes, was lobbying for her chance to get the winner of the first-ever womens Featherweight title fight between Germaine de Randamie and Holly Holm, which ultimately saw Iron Lady come out the victor at UFC 208 (see it).

But now that Cris Cyborg is back in the title picture after she was cleared of any wrongdoing by United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Nunes has opted to forego her plans to compete for the 145-pound strap.

Why?

To hear Lioness tell it, the division belongs to Cyborg.

I do not intend to fight with Cris, Nunes told AG Fight in Brazil (via FOX Sports). But my intention was to fight [Holly Holm or Germaine de Randamie], who were in my category, but Cris is coming back now and Im not interested in going up. I want to see her as the champion. To fight with her, I would have to gain weight and gain muscle. I am at 135 pounds. To do such a job (at 145), I would need at least a year.

And before you perceive Nunes sudden disinterest in winning the 145-pound title as her simply ducking Cyborg, she elaborated further on her decision.

Thats what I said: This category is for Cris, but then she tested positive, Nunes said. But then, two girls from the 135-pound class moved up, one was coming off two defeats and the other was not in the rankings. The champion [Germaine de Randamie] is a girl that I have already defeated. I asked to go up because I can be champion in two categories. My point of view was that they were two athletes from my category and that Cris was not in the game at the time, she concluded.

It probably doesnt matter in the grand scheme of things, as UFC President Dana White pumped the brakes on Amandas quest to move up to featherweight long before Lioness had a change of heart.

As for what is next for Nunes, a rematch against Valentina Shevchenko -- whom she defeated at UFC 196 back in 2016 is on the horizon after Bullet finished Julianna Pena UFC on FOX 23. Cyborg, meanwhile, is currently waiting to see if de Randamies hand is healed before she can get a definite date for her first-ever UFC championship bout.

More:

Amanda Nunes no longer pursuing UFC Featherweight title fight ... - MMAmania.com