Ronda Rousey

LOS ANGELES When it comes to Cristiane Justinos relationship with UFC parent Zuffa, the promotions chairman and CEO apparently is the guy to ask.

UFC President Dana White repeatedly dodged questions about Cyborg Justinos status with the fight promotion at the press conference for tonights UFC 184, saying he didnt know whether she has struck a deal for an eventual showdown with womens bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey.

Call Lorenzo on Monday, White told MMAjunkie after a marked pause. Talk to him.

Fertitta recently told ESPN that UFC executives assisted Justino (13-1) in negotiating a new Invicta FC contract and that the deal did not include a financial investment for her fights in the all-female promotion.

However, a source close to Justinos camp, who asked to remain anonymous as he was not publicly authorized to discuss the deal, said the Invicta featherweight champs contract is with Zuffa.

Zuffa currently acts as Invicta FCs broadcast partner, streaming events via its online network.

Any deal between Justino and the industry-leader would, of course, be in service of a future fight with Rousey (11-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC), whose ranks of logical title challengers has thinned in the two years shes held the UFC belt. On Saturday, she submitted Cat Zingano (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in 14 seconds in UFC 184s headliner.

But White stressed Justino, who on Friday defended her belt with a 46-second TKO of Charmaine Tweet at Invicta FC 12, needs to make weight at bantamweight before she even becomes a part of the title conversation for Rousey.

Its a serious weight issue here, he said. Thats the issue. If Cyborg fought last night and she was 135 pounds, yeah, wed be talking about this right now.

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Is Cristiane 'Cyborg' Justino signed to Zuffa? Dana White says to ask Lorenzo Fertitta