Ex-UFC champ Holly Holm: ‘There has to be a lot that happens’ before fighting ‘Cyborg’ – MMAjunkie.com

A fight between Holly Holm and Cristiane Justino has been historically difficult for UFC officials to put together. And it doesnt seem that trend is going to change going forward.

Since Justino (17-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) officially joined the UFC roster this past year, the organization has made multiple attempts to book a fight with Holm (10-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC). The most recent effort came for Saturdays UFC 208 event, which sees Holm face Germaine de Randamie (6-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC) for the inaugural UFC womens featherweight title.

Before Holm vs.de Randamie was booked for the pay-per-view headlinerat Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., UFC officials intended to pitHolm against Cyborg.The timing didnt work, though, and the Brazilian received notice of a potential U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) violation thathas put her career on ice.

Depending how Justinos USADA case unfolds, she could be sidelined for more than a year with asuspension. Holm said shes not ready to rule out the potential showdown entirely, but she saidthe ball is currently in Justinos court.

Im just going to wait and see what happens with that (USADA situation), Holm told MMAjunkie. There has to be a lot that happens for that fight to happen. Shes got to deal with whatever is going on with USADA. Who knows whats really happening with that? Obviously something.

The UFCs decision to add a womens featherweight division revolved largely around Justino. Cyborg, whos the current Invicta FC 145-pound champ, has dominated the weight class for more than a decade, but UFC officials havebeen reluctant to give her fights at her desired weight, and they required Justino to cut to 140 pounds for her first two UFC appearances.

After a long wait, UFC officials finally added theweight class, but the timing couldnt have been worse; it happened just as Justinos potential anti-doping violation came to light. If and when she does return, she would seemingly fight the Holm-de Randamie winner, but much can change during that time.

Holm, aformer UFC womens bantamweight champion, has said she might opt for a return to 135 pounds if she can win at UFC 208 in hopes of winning back that belt and achieving her goal of holding two titles simultaneously.

Holm said shes aware the fight most fans want to see her in is against Justino, but numerous hurdles remain. She said its a similar situation aswhen she entered the UFC and fight fanswere clamoring to see her fight then-UFC champ Ronda Rousey. She was patient, and the fight eventually materialized under terms she was satisfied with. She said shes going to use the same approach for Cyborg.

In order to even think about that potential fight, I have to get through this fight, Holm said. When I first signed with the UFC, I had two fights, one fight being Raquel Pennington and then Marion Reneau. In both of those fights, people kept asking me, How long do you think until you fight Ronda? I said, Well I have these fights in front of me first, so I have to get through them. I know Cris Cyborg is definitely the big name for the 145-pound division, but right now with this situation she has going on, I think Ill just let that pan out.

Who knows whats really going on? I dont want to put all my eggs in one basket. I dont want my career to be defined over one fighter. I still have so much to do. Ive got Germaine de Randamie right in front of me. If I dont get by her, there probably wont even be talk of a Cris Cyborg fight.

For more on UFC 208, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

Originally posted here:

Ex-UFC champ Holly Holm: 'There has to be a lot that happens' before fighting 'Cyborg' - MMAjunkie.com

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