Mattel Unveils SDCC Exclusive Cyborg ‘Justice League’ Motherbox Toy – Heroic Hollywood (blog)

Mattel has unveiled a premium Cyborg Justice League action figure that will be exclusively available at San Diego Comic Con 2017.

The figure itself comes encased within a Motherbox which activates lights and the sound of the Motherbox heard when the sentient supercomputer granted the half man, half machine his abilities in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. You can also press the activation button to light up Cyborg and for sound as well.

You can check out the video of the SDCC exclusive Justice League Cyborg Origin figure below.

Directed by Zack Snyder,Justice Leaguestars Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, Jeremy Irons as Alfred, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Amber Heard as Mera, J.K. Simmons as Jim Gordon, Kiersey Clemons as Iris West, Julian Lewis Jones, and Willem Dafoe are also set to appear. Heres the official synopsis:

Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Supermans selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroesBatman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flashit may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

Justice League hitstheaters November 17, 2017.

Source: Mattel

The DCEU has found its own definitive version of Superman. Henry Cavill has been given the opportunity to play the iconic superhero in this monster of a DC franchise and so far hes done a great job with the role and brining Superman into the new century in a new way. With Justice League set to hit theaters later this year its safe to say that we will be seeing a lot from him over the next several years. So far there have only been two movies featuring him but these two movies have already given us some memorable moments with the character. These moments in particular stand out and give a weight to the character that is crucial to this series continued success. While it still may be early its a good time to look back at said great moments.

Here are 5 of the Best DCEU Superman Moments So Far. Click Next to continue

Michael Mistroff

Michael Mistroff is a Film/TV fan with a passion for Star Wars, Marvel, DC, and Stranger Things.

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Mattel Unveils SDCC Exclusive Cyborg 'Justice League' Motherbox Toy - Heroic Hollywood (blog)

10 Things You Need To Know About Cyborg – Screen Rant

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice will introduce audiences to many central characters in the DCEU. Several other members of the Justice Leaguewill be making cameos, including Wonder Woman, The Flash and Aquaman. One less well-known character who will also make a cameo is the cybernetic hero Cyborg, a.k.a. Victor Stone.

While some were initially surprised whenthe studio announced that not only would Cyborg appear in Dawn of Justice,but also inhis own solo film down the road, it makes a lot of sense when you consider Cyborgs importance to the current DC comic universe. So with Cyborgs first big screen appearance just around the corner, lets take a moment to learn some more about who he is and where he comes from.

Here are Screen Rants 10 Things You Need To Know About Cyborg!

Cyborgs origin story, unlike many other characters in comics, has stayed pretty consistent over the years. It wasnt until the New 52, when DC rebooted its entire universe in 2011, that Victor Stones origins were changed slightly. Victor Stone was a star high school football player with incredible intelligence. Not only did he possess natural smarts, but his parents, scientists at DCs S.T.A.R. Labs, also subjected him to an experiment that would possibly boost his intellect. It worked, but only increasedthe animositygrowing between Victor and his parents.

During another visit to S.T.A.R. Labs, Victor is mortally wounded after an accident with an interdimensional portal. It is only thanks to his fathers quick thinking and incredible technological advancements that he is able to save Victors life, but he also transformed him into a new hybrid that would become known as Cyborg. While the enhancements later helped him fight crime, Victor was not happy or grateful for what his father had done to him.

In the New 52, Cyborg is still given cybernetic bodyenhancements, but this time his father uses reverse engineered alien technology to outfit his son with the limbs and body parts necessary for survival.

Cyborg is notable for his history as a member of theTeen Titans. In the comics, he spent decades on the team as one of the central characters of the acclaimed Teen Titanscartoon. But theTeen Titans werent just a way that he could use his abilities to help people, they were also his family. Due to the self-consciousness he felt abouthis cybernetic enhancements, Victor Stone became an outsider. Luckily, the Teen Titans roster was filled with fellow freaks and outcasts. These outcasts became Vics true family and it was here on this team that Cyborg finally found his calling.

Cyborg goes on hundreds of adventures with the Titans and becomes integral to their operations, thanks to both his intellect and technological capabilities. He even meets his best friend, Beast Boy, among the ranks of the Teen Titans. Its safe to say that Vic ended up needing the Titans just as much as they needed him.

Not only did Victors origin slightly change with the New 52, but his position in the DC Universe changed as well. Now, once given mechanical parts by his father, Vic becomes a founding member ofthe Justice League, joining Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and the Flash. Though Victor is still young, his maturity helps him stand tall among these six other icons. Thanks to the Mother Box technology and hisknowledge of the New Gods, Cyborg is an integral figure in the Justice Leagues plan to stop Darkseids invasion of Earth.

Then, like the Teen Titans in the previous DC universe, the Justice League help Cyborg overcome his ideas of being an outcast. Thanks to their support and Cyborgs maturity, he comes to terms with his appearance, so much so that he even forgives his father.

Despite Cyborgs struggle with his enhancements, the powers they give him are nothing short of incredible. Cyborg is not only one of the most powerful Titans, but also one of the most powerful Justice League members.

Cyborg can interface with practically any computer or piece of technology. This allows him to extrapolate data from anywhere, which gives him an enormous advantage as a hero. Perhaps even more interesting is his ability known as technopathy. This allows him to hear and control technology that are either connected to the Internet or communicating on an enclosed line. So, not only can Cyborg manipulate this technology from afar, but he can hear the communications and choose to scramble or change the messages. He also has the ability to technomorph, meaning he can assimilate technology with his own body to either repair himself, gain knowledge, or gain a new ability.

Of course Cyborg has many other superpowers, like strength, stamina, speed, flight, x-ray vision, and so on, but its his technological and cybernetic abilities that truly set him apart from everyone else.

Like many other heroes, Cyborg has died and come back in the comics. Due to Cyborgs condition, his deaths and resurrections are usually very different from the other fallen heroes. Given thathis body is vulnerable to viruses, Cyborgs mind has been taken over several times before.

One of the first times Cyborg was rebuilt after death, he lost his mind because of Russian scientists who captured him and altered his mind to suit their needs. Fortunately, his mind was restored later by an intelligent race of aliens named the Technis. Though they had healed him, Vic was forced to integrate his mind with the Technis planet, made solely from technology. He took on the name Cyberion and was eventually turned into a villain due to the Technis influence over him.

Eventually, the Teen Titanswere able to unlock his mind and download it onto a new body. This body was known as the Omegadrome, an old warsuit used by the ex-Titan Minion. Finally, Victor was able to morph with a human clone of his former self-made by Nightwing. The combination between the Omegadrome and his clone helped shape Cyborg into the half-man half-machine he once was. Basically, no matter what the problem, Cyborgs body and mind can be restored and transferred.

Known for being a team player, whether on the Justice League or the Teen Titans, Cyborg has also been a leader many times. Not only does being a founding members of the Justice League in the New 52 establish him as a leader, but his role in later incarnations of the Teen Titans help do the same. Being an original member of the Teen Titans, Cyborg is well-respected and liked by both the original Titans as well as the newer members. He not only leads this new team of Titans, but grows in strength and skill as well, cementing his place at the head of the team.

Not only does he take the leadership roles in the Titans and Justice League, but Cyborg never shies away from the challenge of leading and coordinating other heroes. Thanks in part to his increased intelligence, but also to his timeas a star football player, Victor is well-suited to lead those around him.

Many peopleremember Cyborg from the acclaimed Teen Titans show, but there are even more versions of the character. One of the most differentversions of the character was seen during theFlashpoint storyline. Taking place in a universe created by the Flash after he goes back in time to save his mother, Cyborg was seen as Americas most iconic hero. He not only worked closely with the government, but also kept tabs on other metahumans within the universe.

While seen as a great hero by the public, Cyborg had a lot of trouble earning the respect of other heroes. Not only is his role as a hero different in this universe, but he is shown to have no ability to lead, as no other heroes listen to him. While this Cyborg has just as many powers and abilities as the other versions of the character,he is distinctly different for that reason alone.

WithBatman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, we are going to get our first look at the DC Extended Universe version of Cyborg. Played by Ray Fisher, a broadway actor, Cyborg will be a founding member of the cinematic Justice League and a force to be reckoned with. During the CW special that featured looks at most members of the Justice League as well as other exclusive sneak peeks into the future DC Extended Universe, we saw a quick interview withthe actor.

Here, Fisher explains that Cyborg will indeed have some of his signature powers like technopathy. Not only this, but this version ofCyborg doesnt even sleep. Hesimply acquires data while at rest. This versionis also online 24/7, another key feature of his comic book counterpart.It looks likely that the movies will give us a faithful and interesting version of Cyborg.

As I touched on previously, Cyborg is a character engulfed in insecurity about his appearance. A commentary on self-reflection and self-acceptance, Cyborg has stood as a symbol for these causes for decades. In aTeen Titansstoryline, Cyborg is trying to come to terms with his appearance when he runs into a group of children. The children all look and marvel over his amazing prosthetics. The reason they aremesmerized by his futuristic look is because they, too, are missing limbs and wearing prosthetics.

They see Cyborg as role model and a hero because he has the same type of handicaps as they do, but is overcoming those handicaps. The acceptance from these children gives Cyborg the inspiration he desired for so long. In one simple moment, Cyborg showed us that no matter what your situation is, you can overcome it and do amazing things.

Most comic book heroeshave some kind of love interest. There are a few, however, that dont have any. Cyborg is one of these characters. With all the layers of self-reflection and the love of his make-shift family, the Teen Titans, it just never seemed like he needed one to become a more complex character.

Though Cyborg has no Lois Lane or Steve Trevor, the one woman many thought was Cyborgs love interest was Sarah Simms. She was introduced in the story where Cyborg meets the children with prosthetics. The two develop a friendship, but they never end up together. In fact, Cyborg creator Marv Wolfman has even come out and publicly said that Cyborg and Sarah are just friends. Perhaps one day we will see a definitive love interest introduced for Cyborg, but he has done just finewithout one for the past 40 years.

Hopefully you now know a bit more about DCs cybernetic man. With his first onscreen debut almost here, youll be going into Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice with some more background info on Cyborg. Be sure to let us know what your favorite fact was and if theres anything else you feel should have been on here!

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10 Things You Need To Know About Cyborg - Screen Rant

Cris Cyborg vs. Megan Anderson for featherweight title slated …

After weeks of drama, the UFC is getting ready to finally move on with its womens featherweight division, and they are doing so in a big way.

The promotion is close to officially booking Cris Cyborg Justino vs. Megan Anderson for the 145-pound title at UFC 214 on July 29 in Anaheim, Calif., MMA Fighting has learned. If all goes according to plan, the UFC is expected to announce the highly anticipated fight in the coming days.

It is unclear at this time how the promotion will handle getting the belt off Germaine de Randamie. The Dutch-born fighter became the inaugural champion in February when she defeated Holly Holm via a controversial decision, however, since then, she has been inactive and is still nursing an injured hand.

Justino (17-1, 1 NC), considered the best featherweight of all time, hasnt fought since her September win over Lina Lnsberg. She was provisionally suspended by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in December, though after a two-month investigation, she was granted a retroactive therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for Spironolactone, a physician-prescribed diuretic. She did not receive any sanctions from USADA or the UFC. This will mark her first fight in the UFC at 145 pounds.

Its been an eventful few weeks for Justino. She was cited for misdemeanor battery by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department after punching fellow fighter Angela Magaa at the UFC Athlete Retreat in May.

Regardless, the UFCs initial plan was to book Justino against de Randamie for the belt on July 29, however, de Randamie turned down the fight.

Germaine and her team have talked, and the position is that she will not fight Cyborg because Cyborg is a known and proven cheater, de Randamies manager Brian Butler told MMA Fighting last month. Even after so much scrutiny has been put on Cyborg, she still managed to pop for something and will always be a person of suspicion who is trying to beat the system rather than just conforming to the rules.

For that reason, Germaine and her team don't believe that Cyborg should be allowed to compete in the UFC at all. If that is the only fight the UFC wants, then Germaine is willing to wait and see if the UFC will strip her belt before making her next move.

When a de Randamie fight wasnt available, the UFC then tried to book Justino vs. Cat Zingano, but undisclosed health issues precluded Zingano from fighting on that date.

So, after weeks of Anderson campaigning to fight Justino, the promotion settled on the Australian Anderson, who is the current Invicta champion.

Anderson (8-2) became Invictas interim featherweight champion when she defeated Charmaine Tweet in January. She was named Invictas official 145-pound champion after then-champion Justino, who is also a former Strikeforce featherweight champion, vacated the title in March to pursue a UFC career.

Since then, Anderson and Justino campaigned aggressively via social media and the press to fight each other in the UFC, but the UFC initially opted against signing Anderson. Those plans eventually changed.

The duo appeared on a recent episode of The MMA Hour and both verbally agreed to fight at UFC 214.

I am very excited about this fight, and I called out this fight a long time, because I think shes a 145-pounder, Justino said. This fight was supposed to happen a long time ago, and then no happen because her manager talked to the UFC and thought she needed more time, needed more fights. But they think this is the real fight. This is the real fight for the belt at 145.

Cris and I are the top featherweights in the world, Anderson added. It should have been us, but it wasnt. Its fine, but lets do it now.

Anderson, who now trains out of Kansas City, has won her last four fights in a row. She was actually booked to defend the Invicta title against Helena Kolesnyk at Invicta FC 24 on July 15 last week, but that fight is expected to be canceled.

The event, headlined by Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones 2 for the UFC light heavyweight title, will take place at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Justino-Anderson would serve as the co-main event.

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Cris Cyborg vs. Megan Anderson for featherweight title slated ...

Cyborg ‘always knew’ De Randamie didn’t want to fight her, glad for … – Bloody Elbow

Cris Cyborg won't have to wait around anymore to fight for the UFC featherweight belt. After former champion Germaine de Randamie was stripped of her belt by the UFC, Cris will now take on Invicta FC champion Megan Anderson.

A switch that, as Cyborg told Combate, makes her happier than the original fight.

"We knew she never wanted to fight me. There was some people in her camp that warned me about it, they said she wasn't going to fight me. I wanted to close the fight as soon as possible. I believe she knew they would do that. I don't think it came as a surprise, or that she learned about it on the internet. The UFC was in touch with her manager, they wanted to put me against her, but I knew it wouldn't be that quick."

"Maybe she was dropping to bantamweight to become a two-division champion. I guess that was her excuse, but she thought she couldn't defend and keep her belt. She didn't want the fight. Her first excuse was saying her hand was hurt, then she said she had family problems, then she called me a cheater. It was a new excuse everyday.

This fight against Megan is a big opportunity. She has the Invicta belt, which I vacated, so it's a perfect match. It's a real featherweight fight."

Cris Cyborg is expected to take on Megan Anderson for the UFC female featherweight title at UFC 214, on July 29, in Anaheim, California. The card will be headlined by a rematch for the light heavyweight title between champion Daniel Cormier and former champion Jon Jones.

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Cyborg 'always knew' De Randamie didn't want to fight her, glad for ... - Bloody Elbow

‘Cyborg’ Justino, Megan Anderson to fight for featherweight title taken from Germaine de Randamie – ESPN (blog)

Jun 19, 2017

Katie BarnesespnW.com

Cris "Cyborg" Justino will face Megan Anderson in the co-main event of UFC 214 next month for the newly vacant women's featherweight championship, the organization announced Monday.

The belt will be up for grabs July 29 in Anaheim, California as UFC stripped Germaine de Randamie of the title for refusing to fight Justino.

"UFC has informed Germaine de Randamie and her management team that she is being removed as the women's featherweight champion due to her unwillingness to fight the No. 1 ranked contender, Cris 'Cyborg' Justino," UFC said in a statement. "UFC maintains that any champion is expected to accept fights against the top contenders in their respective weight classes in order to maintain the integrity of the sport."

De Randamie defeated Holly Holm at UFC 208 in February to claim the inaugural women's featherweight title. Justino vs. Anderson will be the second fight in the division's short history.

The fight announcement comes four weeks after Justino was cited for misdemeanor battery, following an altercation with Angela Magana.

"Since I've been fighting in the UFC, people have been saying that there are no women my weight to fight," Justino said. "This proves that wasn't true. Instead of fighting someone who has lost their last couple of fights at a lower weight, I'm getting the chance to fight the No. 3-ranked featherweight in the world."

Justino (17-1) has won her first two UFC fights. Anderson (8-2) is the reigning featherweight champion in the all-women promotion Invicta FC, which UFC distributes through its online platform.

"We're the best featherweights in the world," Anderson said. "It's a great test for [Justino], and it's a great test for me. There's a reason I'm in the position that I am in such a short amount of time. She knows I'm a big threat to her."

Said Justino: "This is the type of world title fight fans want to see, and I guarantee you it won't go five rounds."

Anderson, who has won her last four bouts by knockout, told ESPN she has signed a multi-fight deal with UFC.

ESPN's Brett Okamoto contributed to this report.

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'Cyborg' Justino, Megan Anderson to fight for featherweight title taken from Germaine de Randamie - ESPN (blog)

Megan Anderson Vows To Show ‘How Human’ Cris Cyborg Is – LowKick MMA

Invicta FC featherweight champion Megan Anderson will have the opportunity of a lifetime when she steps into the Octagon at UFC 214 on July 29, 2017 in Anaheim, California to take on Cris Cyborg for the vacant UFC featherweight championship.

Cyborg is considered by many to be the very best female fighter in the world, and she is undoubtedly one of the most feared fighters in the world. Anderson, however, is planning to prove just how human Cyborg is:

Shes human like everybody else, Anderson told the Fight Society podcast (via FOX Sports). I think a lot of people go into that fight fighting Cyborg the name and theyve already lost before theyve got into the cage. I dont give a [expletive] about how many followers she has. I dont give a [expletive] about how much reach she has. Shes a human being and I have no doubt come July 29 everyone whos doubting me will find out how human Cris Cyborg can really be.

Justino has fought twice in the UFC to date, scoring back-to-back stoppage victories over Leslie Smith and Lina Lansberg in 140-pound catchweight bouts. Earlier this year, the UFC introduced a womens featherweight division, but Cyborg was not featured in the inaugural title fight. Instead, Germaine de Randamie scored a somewhat controversial decision victory over Holly Holm this past February to become the promotions first female 145-pound titleholder.

De Randamie, however, refused to fight Cyborg, which led the UFC to strip her of her title, and book Cyborg against Anderson, who was scheduled to headline an Invicta card in July. As far as de Randamie goes, Anderson feels as if she held up the fledgling division:

I think she didnt want to come up against someone whos going to have a lot of size advantage over her. I understand her reasoning behind [not taking the fight] but the rules arent what shes wanting them to be. So you have to fight the top contenders regardless whether six years ago Cris had [tested positive] for performance enhancing drugs or not. She doesnt get the choice. Youre the champion, you fight the No. 1 contender.

And while its great that a new champion will be crowned this summer, it will still leave UFC with plenty of problems, as there arent a lot of 145-pound women on the roster to keep the division busy, especially since the former champ is going back down to 135 pounds.

What do you make of Andersons comments ahead of UFC 214?

NEXT: Canelo Alvarez Throws Shade At Mayweather-McGregor Fight

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Megan Anderson Vows To Show 'How Human' Cris Cyborg Is - LowKick MMA

Reinventing yourself, or how to become a cyborg – Deutsche Welle

Hannes Sjoblad doesn't look like a cyborg. He doesn't have a bionic arm that can destroy brick walls or titanium legs that enable him to run faster than a cheetah. Yet, there isn't really another word that better describes someone who wears a chip as big as a grain of rice in his left hand and swipes it to get into his apartment, his workplace and pay for public transport.

"For me, technology is fundamentally important in the way it is transforming not just the media, not just business, not just society, but technology is truly transforming...how we see ourselves as human beings," Sjoblad said at DW's annual Global Media Forum (GMF) in Bonn on Wednesday.

Who am I?

"Identity is a lot of things. It's about where you're born, it's about gender, about genetics, and it's about sexual orientation and many other things. Identity is something that you are given by others... but identity is also something that we take. Identity is something that you increasingly define for yourself. You can say, 'I am this' or 'I am no longer that,'" says Sjoblad. The world of the internet helps us connect, with our unique identities, with people who think similarly.

Hannes Sjoblad: using technology to transform identities

But the second, and perhaps more interesting aspect of digitalization, is that we can experiment with our identity, Sjoblad says. He calls himself a "biohacker," a person who "hacks" biological, organic processes to make them better. According to his website, Sjoblad "works to radically democratize public access to powerful technologies. In this setting, he does not step back from experiments with technology withhis own body."Moreover, he envisions a future in which"the human body has fundamentally different capabilities than it does today."

Will we all become superhumans?

This is where the chip in his hand enters the picture. "It's a technology we have been putting in animals for more than thirty years industrially," Sjoblad says. "These are the things that i managed to replace, that I don't have to carry in my pockets anymore because of the implant," he explains, describing how the implant serves as keys to his workplace, cupboards and apartment and membership for his gym and so on. He also saves data in his hand, "like a USB drive."

"I don't carry paper or business cards anymore. You can just swipe my hand with your smartphone and you will get my contacts straight from my chip," he announces, to a bevy of laughter from the audience. For those interested in having a chip fitted in their bodies, Sjoblad organizes "Implant parties" in different cities across the globe.

The future is here

For those wanting to go a step further, human genome editing promises to become an affordable trend in the coming years. According to Sjoblad, a human genome testing kitcould soon be as tiny as a Snickers bar and cost as much as an ice cream cone from a shop around the corner. Accessing a person's DNA sequence could enable scientists and experts to "edit" the code and make changes to a person's physical and perhaps even mental attributes.

All this, according to Sjoblad, will translate into a lot of diversity, into a "dramatic explosion" of all kinds of identities from all over the world. "We are entering a completely new era of human evolution. I think that the idea that we can design ourselves genetically is as dramatic a transformation in biological evolution as when the first animals crawled out from the sea onto land. And we live right in the middle of this change."

Hannes Sjoblad spoke at DW's Global Media Forum 2017, held in Bonn. The slogan for this year was "Identity and Diversity." Dubbed "Media Innovation Lab," the last day of the GMF was a mixture of discussions, presentations and speeches about innovation in news, the latest trends in storytelling and reaching audiences around the world with information.

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Reinventing yourself, or how to become a cyborg - Deutsche Welle

UFC 214: Megan Anderson to fight Cris Cyborg in Anaheim – The Sydney Morning Herald

Gold Coast MMA fighter Megan Anderson has the opportunity to claim a slice of history after signing to fight Brazilian powerhouse Cris Cyborgfor the women's featherweight title at UFC 214.

She's not worried about fighting someone who had tested positive to a banned steroid but the reigning Invicta featherweight champion, with an MMA record of 8-2, has her concerns about the future of a division that hasn't had the smoothest run.

It was only created in February with a title fight between Germaine De Randamie and Holly Holm, which the Dutch fighter won in controversial fashion.

De Randamie landed blows after the bell in two rounds, and since her win the division ostensibly created for Cyborg has stalled.

Holm has gone back to bantamweight, taking out former title challenger Bethe Correia with a head kick last Sunday.

De Randamie angered the UFC by refusing to fight Cyborg, the clear not to mention only challenger, due to the positive steroid test.

The UFC, clearly fed up with De Randamie, stripped her of her championship belt and signed Anderson to fight Cyborg for the title.

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The fight between the Australian and Cyborg has been the subject of rumour and speculation for almost as long as Anderson campaigned for it, but appeared to come almost at the last minute.

Anderson signed her Invicta release papers last Wednesday and sent the UFC her signed fight contract on Friday, with the UFC officially announcing the bout on Monday night Australian time.

Speaking from her training base in Kansas City, Missouri, Anderson voiced her concerns about the future of a division that, for all intents and purposes, has just two fighters.

"No matter what happens in this fight, what they do after the fight will determine if they're invested in the division, and I'm sceptical," she said.

"A few weeks ago, we were told 'no, this fight wasn't happening'.

"We were like okay, that's fine, at least they've told us. So we went and got a fight with Invicta.

"I was happy to defend my belt and I was happy to be their champion, but then six hours after I handed in my bout agreement with Invicta, the UFC called.

"I just think they just honestly don't know what they're doing and win, lose or draw, I guess we're going to find out after the fight exactly what is happening with the division."

In the immediate future, Anderson has her eyes on Anaheim, California for her July fight with Cyborg, a destroyer with a 17-1-1 record.

Cyborg tested positive for Stanozolol, an anabolic steroid, in 2011, and in December last year tested positive for a PED in a test administered by USADA.

While she was granted a retroactive therapeutic use exemption for her December infraction, it was enough for De Randamie to refuse to fight her.

Although Anderson said she said she could understand De Randamie's motives for refusing to fight Cyborg, she didn't care if Cyborg was still using.

"I don't give a shit, I don't care if she's on it or not, I'll fight her regardless.

"With females that take performance-enhancing drugs, it's not like it's a short-term thing. It changes you, and the effects can last up to 15 years but the thing is, people have been fighting her knowing this for how long? So you can't just say no now.

"...She's never come up against anyone who has my finishing power and that's going to be the difference."

With a win, Anderson can leapfrog Aussie fighter Robert Whittaker to claim the country's first full UFC Crown, not bad for a fighter most casual fans wouldn't immediately recognise.

"It's a boy's club," she said of UFC journalism down under.

"And it's sad but I'm hoping I can raise awareness for women's MMA, and I feel like I can be a great ambassador for women's MMA, for the country and the sport."

Anderson believes she's part of a changing of the guard in MMA and she is quick to point out that the old standards of MMA simply do not apply anymore, particularly to those who like to point out she has only had ten professional fights.

"There's a new generation of fighters coming through, like myself and Rob, and we're changing the game. We're different breeds."

"Just because someone has been doing this longer, it doesn't mean they're automatically going to win. That doesn't mean shit anymore."

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UFC 214: Megan Anderson to fight Cris Cyborg in Anaheim - The Sydney Morning Herald

UFC 214: Megan Anderson will prove Cris Cyborg is human just like everyone else – MMAmania.com

You dont get a nickname like Cyborg for being like every other human on the planet.

Thats why the moniker fits Cristiane Justino so well, as the fearsome striker has made fighting in mixed martial arts (MMA) look rather easy, leaving behind a trail of destruction on her way to the top, all while barely breaking a sweat.

At the end of the day, however, she bleeds like every one else, and thats just what Megan Anderson is out to prove when she finally gets her wish to face the Brazilian at UFC 214 on July 29, 2017 in Anaheim, California.

Shes human like everybody else, Anderson told the Fight Society podcast (via FOX Sports). I think a lot of people go into that fight fighting Cyborg the name and theyve already lost before theyve got into the cage. I dont give a [expletive] about how many followers she has. I dont give a [expletive] about how much reach she has. Shes a human being and I have no doubt come July 29 everyone whos doubting me will find out how human Cris Cyborg can really be.

Justino hasnt shown human-like flaws inside the combat cage, as she hasnt tasted defeat -- or come close to doing so in over 12 years. Anderson has proven to be a formidable champion herself, winning eight of her last nine while claiming the Invicta FC interim featherweight title.

Anderson's UFC championship bout which will mark her Octagon debut came to be after former champion Germaine de Randamie refused to face Cyborg due to her past history with failed drug tests. As a result, the promotion stripped Iron Lady of her title.

For Megan, the decision was a just one, as she feels all champions must defend their titles against whoever is in front of them, tainted past be damned.

I think she really held up the division, Anderson said. I really dont consider Germaine a natural featherweight and she knew she was going to have to give up a lot of size going up against legitimate featherweights.

I think she didnt want to come up against someone whos going to have a lot of size advantage over her. I understand her reasoning behind [not taking the fight] but the rules arent what shes wanting them to be. So you have to fight the top contenders regardless whether six years ago Cris had [tested positive] for performance enhancing drugs or not. She doesnt get the choice. Youre the champion, you fight the No. 1 contender.

And while its great that a new champion will be crowned this summer, it will still leave UFC with plenty of problems, as there arent a lot of 145-pound women on the roster to keep the division busy, especially since the former champ is going back down to 135 pounds.

Maybe UFC should think about re-adjusting this a bit.

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UFC 214: Megan Anderson will prove Cris Cyborg is human just like everyone else - MMAmania.com

Megan Anderson promises to show ‘how human Cris Cyborg can really be’ at UFC 214 – FOXSports.com

Very few fighters have accepted a matchup with featherweight terror Cris Cyborg Justino much less campaigned for the opportunity to face her but thats exactly what Megan Anderson did to land the fight at UFC 214 on July 29.

It was announced on Monday that the UFC would restart the womens featherweight division with Cyborg vs. Anderson serving as the co-main event to the highly anticipated card also featuring Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones in the headliner.

Anderson didnt fall into the title shot by accident after she was crowned Invicta FC featherweight champion earlier this year, but she also took additional steps by asking for the bout numerous times on social media while her management team did everything possible to negotiate for the matchup with Cyborg behind the scenes.

Andersons unwavering willingness to not only fight Cyborg but also telling anyone who would listen that she desperately wanted the chance to beat her proved that she was cut from a different cloth than numerous other competitors who wanted nothing to do with her.

Former champion Germaine de Randamie was ultimately stripped of her title because she refused to face Cyborg. Ronda Rousey also put up a fight for years arguing against a potential showdown with Cyborg while she was reigning as champion in the UFC.

So why exactly did Anderson run towards the fire when so many other competitors have seemingly gone in the exact opposite direction whenever Cyborgs name came up?

Anderson also revealed that it was only a few weeks ago that the UFC told her that the fight was not happening, which is why she ended up booking at title defense in Invicta FC on July 15. Then a few days later, the UFC came calling with the official offer for the Cyborg fight, which is exactly what she wanted all along.

Not even six hours after I handed in my bout agreement for that fight [in Invicta FC], the UFC called, Anderson said.

Im very excited when I finally got the call. Its what weve been wanting for a really long time and I think this is a really great step forward in the direction for the division.

Of course theres also some frustration from both Anderson and Cyborg that it took this long for the UFC to pull the trigger on this matchup. Part of the anger surrounding the repeated delays in getting the division going have to do with de Randamie winning the title in February and then immediately announcing that she would be out of action with a hand injury for an undetermined amount of time.

Add to that, de Randamie then proclaimed that she wouldnt fight Cyborg and that her intention was to return to the womens bantamweight division instead. Through all of that uncertainty, there was no clear plan from the UFC that the promotion even intended to move forward with the featherweight division much less crown a new champion.

I think she really held up the division, Anderson said about de Randamie. I really dont consider Germaine a natural featherweight and she knew she was going to have to give up a lot of size going up against legitimate featherweights. I think she didnt want to come up against someone whos going to have a lot of size advantage over her.

I understand her reasoning behind [not taking the fight] but the rules arent what shes wanting them to be. So you have to fight the top contenders regardless whether six years ago Cris had [tested positive] for performance enhancing drugs or not. She doesnt get the choice. Youre the champion, you fight the No. 1 contender.

Thankfully the UFC not only decided to keep the division but booking Cyborg vs. Anderson on one of the biggest cards of the year seems like a sign that 145-pound women will have a home in the Octagon for some time to come.

Anderson appreciates that everything finally came together and now she has the chance to face Cyborg on the biggest stage with everybody in the world watching.

Im really grateful that this fight is happening on such a big scale that the UFC is and I feel thats the platform this fight deserves, Anderson said.

Listen to Anderson along with Michael Chiesa and Johny Hendricks on the latest Fight Society podcast including a breakdown of the Mayweather-McGregor super fight and much more. Listen via Soundcloud or download and subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts.

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Megan Anderson promises to show 'how human Cris Cyborg can really be' at UFC 214 - FOXSports.com

Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino: Most Dominant Woman in MMA History Gets First UFC Title Shot – RollingStone.com

More than 12 years after her pro debut, the most dominant female athlete in MMA history will finally compete in her first UFC championship match this summer.

Cristiane "Cyborg" Justino's long and tumultuous road to UFC gold comes to a head July 29th when she takes on Megan Anderson for the vacant UFC Women's Featherweight title at UFC 214, which takes place at Honda Center in Anaheim.

The Brazilian's opportunity comes at the expense of another, though, because along with Monday's announcement of Justino vs. Anderson, came the news Germaine de Randamie had been stripped of the Women's Featherweight belt sheclaimed by defeating Holly Holmat UFC 208 in February.

Justino has been a menacing presence in the sport since she lost her first pro fight in May 2005. She's put together an 18-fight unbeaten streak (17 wins, one no-contest) since that result and has etched her place in history as the most dominant and violent female ever. Justino doesn't just beat opponents, she leaves them bloody, bruised and physically mangled.

Although the arch of her career has been somewhat tainted bytesting positive for banned substancesin December 2011, Justino's opportunity to fight for a UFC championship has been a long time coming. She's clearly the best 145 pound fighter on the planet, but after making apair of unnecessary weight cutsto 140 pounds at the UFC's demand in her first two Octagon appearances, was not medically fit to fight in the inaugural belt when her weight class was finally introduced to the UFC earlier this year.

That set up the fight between de Randamie and Holm, which "The Iron Lady" narrowly won on the scorecards. It was clear from the moment the belt was wrapped around de Randamie's waist that she was reluctant to defend against Justino, and as time went on, her stance became crystal clear.

"The position is that she will not fight 'Cyborg' because 'Cyborg' is a known and proven cheater," de Randamie's manager Brian Butler said in May. "Even after so much scrutiny has been put on 'Cyborg,' she still managed to pop for something and will always be a person of suspicion who is trying to beat the system rather than just conforming to the rules."

In addition to Justino's failed 2010 test, she was also brieflyflagged for a potential doping violationfrom the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which oversees the UFC drug testing program, earlier this year. She was immediately condemned as a cheat, but shortly thereafter wascleared of any wrongdoingand approved a retroactive therapeutic-use exemption for the substances found in her system.

Despite evidence to the contrary and the fact Justino has been drug tested 17 times over the past two years, de Randamie felt Justino was still benefiting from the use of banned substances and stood her ground in her unwillingness to fight. She said the UFC could take her belt if it wouldn't support her position, and that's exactly what happened, as the Dutch fighter became the 11th person in UFC history to bestripped of a title belt.

UFC has informed Germaine de Randamie and her management team that she is being removed as the Womens Featherweight champion due to her unwillingness to fight the No. 1 ranked contender, Cris 'Cyborg' Justino," UFC officials announced in a statement. "UFC maintains that any champion is expected to accept fights against the top contenders in their respective weight classes in order to maintain the integrity of the sport."

Justino has been a human wrecking ball throughout her career, earning 15 of her 17 wins by knockout, with nine finishes coming inside the first round. She's won titles under Invicta FC and now-defunct Strikeforce banners, but for many years the UFC was just not the right fit.

In recent years the UFC has fully embraced women's MMA, though, adding four new weight classes since February 2013. Although the likes of Ronda Rousey and Joanna Jedrzejczyk have stood out for their stellar title reigns, no female brings a fearsome, Mike Tyson-esque aura into competition quite like Justino.

She's waited a very long time to fight for a UFC championship at her most comfortable weight, and now that the opportunity has arrived, it's going to be a gargantuan task to not only stop her from claiming the gold at UFC 214, but going on to defend it for as long as she sees fit.

"A lot of people say, 'Oh, she's the best in women's MMA,'" Justino says. "But we have a lot of new fans, and I think with this fight, I have the opportunity to show them who 'Cyborg' is. I just have to go there and do my job. It's the same work I've done at other events. I will do the same in UFC. I just have to be me, the same 'Cyborg' as all the fights."

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Cris 'Cyborg' Justino: Most Dominant Woman in MMA History Gets First UFC Title Shot - RollingStone.com

Cyborg, Anderson to fight for FW belt – TSN

Cris Cyborg Justino and Megan Anderson will fight for the newly-vacated womens featherweight championship at UFC 214 on July 29.

The UFC announced the news Monday and confirmed that inaugural champion Germaine de Randamie has been stripped of the title due to her unwillingness to fight Cyborg.

"UFC has informed Germaine de Randamie and her management team that she is being removed as the women's featherweight champion due to her unwillingness to fight the No. 1 ranked contender, Cris 'Cyborg' Justino," the UFC said in a statement. "UFC maintains that any champion is expected to accept fights against the top contenders in their respective weight classes in order to maintain the integrity of the sport."

De Randamie claimed the title with a victory over Holly Holm at UFC 208 in February.

Anderson comes into the bout as the reigning Invicta FC featherweight champion while Cyborg has won two consecutive fights to kick off her UFC tenure.

"We're the best featherweights in the world," Anderson said. "It's a great test for [Justino], and it's a great test for me. There's a reason I'm in the position that I am in such a short amount of time. She knows I'm a big threat to her."

Shortly after the fight announcement, de Randamie told MMAFighting.com that she didn't know the UFC was going to strip her of the title.

"I had absolutely no idea that I was being stripped of the belt," de Randamie said to MMAFighting.com. "I found out through social media."

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Cyborg, Anderson to fight for FW belt - TSN

Get to know Big Thick, Choc, Cyborg & other Miami Hurricanes … – Palm Beach Post (blog)

The Hurricanes have no shortage of player nicknames and most likely, creative ideas for customizing cleats. (Getty Images/Post illustration)

A pro sports league is bucking tradition and doing something fun.

According to a memo obtained by Yahoo Sports, Major League Baseball will allow players to wear nicknames on the back of their jerseys, like theshort-lived XFLonce did (and the NBA tried for a minute). The ballplayers can also wear crazy colorful shoes and personalize a patch paying tribute to someone instrumental in their development. MLB and its players association worked out a deal for the event, called Players Weekend, to run Aug. 25-27.

This makes us wonder: what would a Players Day look like at Miami?

Obviously there would be outstanding cleat designs, especially at a school thats already done the personalized footwear thing. That was one guy painting more than 100 pairs, though, and they generally looked the same. With leeway to go outside the team-issued colors, wed probably see guys trying to look like Odell Beckham Jr.and Cam Newton,plushometown tributes and a lot more.

But maybe not, since, you know, professional players can use part of their big-money paychecks on custom gear. Amateurs cant do that. Anyway.

That brings us to the nicknames. College players are all over social media, which presents myriad opportunity to hang on oneself a creative tag. So, we can already see how certain guys may lean, given free reign. For purposes of this exercise, were assuming the role of nickname coordinator. Some we wont touch. Others may need a little help.

Either way, lets dive deep on this one, shall we?

Possible nicknames for a Miami Hurricanes Players Day:

Defensive tackle Kendrick Norton Big Thick. Were starting strong. Seems to date back to high school, as seen here. Norton is 6-foot-3 and 315 or so pounds. Perfect nickname for a run-stuffing, quarterback-harassing monster in the middle who has a good sense of humor.

Defensive end Chad Thomas MajorNine. All I know is I can talk about why, but Miami cant.

Linebacker Zach McCloud Cyborg. Not sure who gave him the nickname, but it refers to how McCloud played most of last season with a robotic-looking arm. He doesnt want to wear the brace this year, now that his hyperextended elbow has healed, but he may have to if hes putting that name on his back. Who doesnt want a Cyborg at Sam linebacker?

Running back Trayone Gray Choc. A family-given tag stemming from his childhood love of sweets. Its excellent, and its rare you hear a teammate call him something different. As former offensive coordinator James Coley used to say, Everyone loves Choc.

Defensive end Joe Jackson Not that theres anything wrong with Joe Jack or Joedy, a couple real-life monikers he goes by, but Im tempted to call the 6-5, 250-pound sophomore Gladiator after hearing Thomas use that word to describe his physique last year. We need more mighty nicknames. (We need more good sports nicknames of any kind, as some have argued.)

Defensive end Demetrius Jackson Another name-generated one: D-Jack. Id like to see The Deacon catch on, as a reference to his involvement in his church (and a nod to one of the meanest D-ends of all time).

Could go the same route with freshman running back Robert Burns: The Preacher.

Miamis last staff called defensive endTrent HarrisToolbox, and the new coaches saw no reason to change that. Rightfully so. Ideal name for a trustworthy guy with a lot of skills.

Wide receiver Braxton Berrios Hnynut Berrios, a perfect play on his name. Here we are using the preferred online spelling. Creative. A Canes Internet 2014 classic, like Trinidad Brad.

Cornerback Michael Jackson Thriller. Easy, but hey. No mere mortal can resist.

Freshman linebackerBradley Jennings Jr.s pops earned the nickname Monster at Florida State for his bone-crunching hits. Why not continue the legacy? See if you can earn it.

Defensive endJonathan Garvins nickname is Neo, which is a family name.

A group of name-based ones already in use:

Linebacker Darrion Owens instantly becameD.O. when he stepped on campus.

Wide receiver Ahmmon Richards has A.R. as his Twitter handle. UM would like him to one day be known as All-American sophomore wide receiver Ahmmon Richards.

Defensive tackle Gerald Willis is Gee.

Friends call safety Robert Knowles Ra-Ra.

LinebackerTerry McCrayis T-Mac, or if he isnt, should be.

Offensive linemanKai-Leon Herbertshortens his social media handles to K. Herb.

I wonder if anyone has ever called offensive linemanZach DykstraLenny. I doubt they are related.

Patch, obviously, is defensive endScott Patchan.

KickerMichael Badgleyis Badge, though a former UM head coach called him Jersey Mike.

LinebackerJamie Gordinier would be Gordo in most locker rooms.

Freshman punterJeff Feagleswill be Feags, Im sure, and tight endBrian Polendeycan be Poe.

PunterJack Spicer is Spice, unless you want to make a reference to a beleaguered White House Press Secretary.

No reason we shouldnt refer to quarterbackEvan Shirreffsas simply, The Sheriff no matter what type of gunslinging he does.

Malik Rosier (right) could honor Russell Wilson with his nickname, and perhaps, his playing style. (AP/Miami Herald photos)

QuarterbackMalik Rosierused to put Russell Jr. as his Twitter handle, as a nod to fellow mobile quarterback and semi-lookalike Russell Wilson. Unless he wants to move on from that, Im fine with it. If he wins the starting job and performs well, even better.

Do not callquarterbackVincent TestaverdeVinnys Kid, unless you want to sound old. He goes by Young Vinn.

Based on theknee injurieshe overcame and underdog status in the quarterback race, maybeCade Weldoncould be The Comeback Kid.

Quarterback NKosi Perry goes by Kosi, though if he wins the starting job, fans will no doubt anoint him something Messiah-like.

Another potential freshman standout, offensive lineman Navaughn Donaldson (6-6, 350), is appropriately called Big Vaughn, though better nicknames could be coming.

Wide receiverDeeJay 13K Dallaspicked up a good one on the recruiting trail: The Ambassador.

CornerbackRyan Mayesgoes by Rico. That works.

LinebackerCharles Perrycould throw it back to the PBGametime days and call himself King Perry. Its that, or C.P. Similarly, safetyAmari Carteris A.C.

ReceiverDayall Harrishas King Dayall on his Twitter, though I wondered if anyone called him Big Country when I first heard his deep-in-the-heart-of-Mississippi speaking accent.

Waynmon Steeds name is so unique I dont want to touch it, but his Twitter handle They Envy Wayne is even better. Got a little He Hate Me flavor to it. A winner all around.

Im stuck on nicknames for new additions Mike Harley(something about his size and speed, for sure. I might borrow from a hockey legend and go Pocket Rocket.). Jhavonte Dean (Jah or Tae seem right),Derrick Smith(big, imposing safety. We clearly need something better than Smitty here). Anyone got anything for reserve cornerbackTerrance Henley?

Struggling with offensive linemen, too. Like Kc McDermott(Ive never heard anyone call him Big Mac),Hayden Mahoney (of Irish descent, for what its worth), Corey Gaynor (Bad Intentions, based on what his high school coach says he harbors for opponents), Nick Linder (Canes media called him Baby Linder for a time, since his brother had just left the program), Trevor Darling, Tyler Gauthier, Zalontae Hillery, Tre Johnson, Jahair Jones, Tyree St. Louis andBar Milo(The Hebrew Hammer has been done, and really only works if hes a linebacker or safety).

Im also unsure ofChris Herndon. Hes an excellent tight end. Very versatile player. Ive called him Miamis Swiss Army knife, but that doesnt sing. Suggestions welcome.

If freshman linebacker DeAndre Wilderwears No. 11 at UM, as he did on his official visit, Sticks is a possibility. His Twitter handle includes the nickname EyeCandy in it, which is in itself very good.

Cornerback Trajan Bandy Trajan Bandy is already a great name, and Im good with just Bandy on the back. Tra Bands if you need to have a nickname, I guess.

Same deal with safetyRomeo Finley. Romeo is good. His numbers 30, so Im offering Rom30 free of charge.

Cornerback Sheldrick Redwine Why mess with Redwine on the back of a jersey? Its so good. We could go Red, which is what people call him, but cmon. Redwine.

Who could blame Mark Walton if he wanted to get a little braggadocious? (Post photo, Post illustration)

Im taking suggestions for running back Mark Walton, a player with a supremely important role on the team. The Franchise? The Chosen 1?

Linebacker Michael Pinckney, a player with a loquacious personality, deserves more than just Pink. Same with linebacker Shaquille Shaq Quarterman. Open to suggestions for both. The screen names are 56 Nightmares and OG Boobie Shaq, respectively. Maybe we can mine something from that.

Dread-headed linebacker Mike Smithhas been on social media as Rasta Mike, and that works just fine.

We know this about freshman defensive tackleJon Ford:He is built like a truck (6-5, 275), and you can probably call him Ford Tough. Ideally, he would make quality (play) his job one, and he would not need to be fixed or repaired (at all, much less) daily.

Now that defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad is in the NFL, safety Jaquan Johnson is the only Quan on the team, though his social handle includes the phrase Authentic Made. It is important to be authentic made, a wise man once said.

Same AQM deal with running backTravis Homer, who goes by Chief. The former Chief of Coral Gables,David Njoku, likely approves, since that was one of his handles.

Cornerback Malek Young uses Humble Child on social media, and theres nothing wrong with being humble. Throw a comma in there, and you have a cocky directive to opposing receivers.

Defensive end R.J. McIntosh uses Big 80, and thatd look great as a nameplate-number combo. No issue there.

Im going to put in a recommendation kickerDiego Marquezdye his blue streak of hair red, so he can be Rufio.

I very much like wide receiver Lawrence Cagers handle, for a 6-5, 215-pound wideout who can dance: Smooth. Also fine: Cage. UM hopes youll have to learn one of them or yet another by seasons end.

Another big wideout,Evidence Njoku, can be E83, if you dont want to make a play on his first name or famous brother. Big Easy also works. Taken from basketball, like some of Njokus pass-catching ability.

Not to sound harsh, but Im not sure what to do with wideoutsDionte MullinsorDarrell Langham,or defensive tackles Pat BethelorAnthony Moten. But let me introduce you todefensive tackleTyreicThe FreakMartin,which is a nickname lazily borrowed from the last Tyriq (McCord) at UM. Were wrapping this up soon.

Wide receiver Jeff Thomas might win the day with what his Twitter handle gives us. A nameplate with There Goes over the number 4. That is outstanding. One of the fastest players on the team, and when he blows by you, all you can say is

Tight end Michael Irvin IIsscreen name, for reasons I dont know, is Yung Tut. This is already awesome, and should not be messed with. Dont try to force a Playmaker II in there. Yung Tut it is.

Offensive tackle George Brown Jr. uses MADDAWG_70 or just MADDAWG, but Im sorry, Im not really feeling it. Lets try this. Hes from Cincinnati. Skyline has an imposing connotation for a guy whos 6-7, 300 just hope he doesnt disappoint like Cincinnati chili (or the 2015 Canes in Cincinnati. Too soon?)

Cornerback Dee Delaney A winning user handle: DeeThatGuy. I would want someone on my team willing to be That Guy.

Defensive end D.J. Johnson The Predator. Yup, absolutely.

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Get to know Big Thick, Choc, Cyborg & other Miami Hurricanes ... - Palm Beach Post (blog)

Who will help you plan for retirement a robot or a cyborg … – Financial Post (blog)

ANALYSIS

CHICAGO Who will help you plan for retirement a robot or a cyborg?

Pundits have been saying for some time now that the future belongs to robo-adviser automated portfolio services that use algorithms to manage investments. The robo-services have attracted interest as a way to deploy low-cost advice, but retirement planning guru Michael Kitces thinks the real winners will be cyborgs human advisers aided by advanced technology.

Resistance may be futile, as the Borg collective warned the crew of the Enterprise on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Advisers will have little choice but to integrate robo-like technology into their practices, according to Kitces, director of wealth management for Pinnacle Advisory Group and publisher of the widely followed

Nerds Eye View blog

.

In a provocative presentation at last weeks Morningstar Investment Conference here, he argued that technology actually will free up advisers to focus on providing more holistic advice to clients and reinforce their value at a time when so much basic planning information is available for free on the internet.

Meanwhile, the new fiduciary standard requiring conflict-free advice on retirement accounts is pushing the planning field toward providing broader services that go well beyond portfolio management.

Market returns are uncertain, but planners can help boost retirement outcomes by helping clients control the factors that are within their control. A 2013 paper by Morningstar researchers found that retirees can generate 23 percent more income by making more intelligent financial planning decisions of the type typically offered by planners, including optimizing asset allocation, fine-tuning their retirement withdrawal strategies and making tax-efficient drawdown decisions.

Kitces thinks the most important strategy for advisers will be to use technology to help clients navigate uncertainty, explore alternatives and help solve complex problems.

The landscape of technology-enabled advice is becoming concentrated in the cyborg category, he notes, with players like Betterment, FutureAdvisor and JemStep all adding human advice components to their tech offerings.

The cyborg category is winning, not robo, he said.

The big value-add, Kitces said, will be helping clients think through more complex questions. We can be navigators of uncertainty and explorers of alternatives what happens to my plan if I retire sooner? What if I want to work in retirement, or find a new career? Technology doesnt do that, but it can facilitate the conversation if I can use technology to paint the picture for clients.

VANGUARD GRABS THE LEAD

The dominant player in the hybrid cyborg category is mutual fund colossus Vanguard, which launched its Personal Advisor Services (PAS) two years ago this week; at the end of the first quarter this year, PAS had attracted $65 billion in assets. Research firm Cerulli Associates reports that 2016 year-end assets under management at PAS were roughly four times larger than its nearest competitor, Schwab Intelligent Portfolios ($13 billion) and far ahead of Betterment ($6.1 billion), Wealthfront ($4.7 billion) and Personal Capital ($4.3 billion).

PAS benefits from Vanguards massive scale at its launch, $15 billion was transferred from a legacy advisory service for high net-worth clients, and 85 percent of clients already were Vanguard customers before adding PAS. Most are closing in on retirement age, said Frank Kolimago, who heads the service.

Many of them were comfortable self-directing their investments while they were accumulating assets, but concluded that with the complexities of retirement its time to get some professional help, he said.

PAS advises retirees on tax-efficient drawdown and decumulation strategies. Advisers also help with Social Security optimization, estate planning and nonretirement goals such as college saving, or perhaps saving for a vacation home.

One of the most profound changes, Kolimago said, is the shift away from the old brokerage orientation of beating the market investing to meeting objectives. We frame the conversation that way how well are you doing related to your own unique objectives?

He adds that the human dimension plays an important role in volatile markets. We can serve as an emotional circuit-breaker, and help people from making short-term decisions that can hurt them in the long run.

Opponents of the fiduciary standard keep looking for ways to bring it down an effort that is likely to fail. Meanwhile, the cyborgs (and robos) already are far down the track toward a fiduciary reality. PAS is a registered investment advisory firm that already complies with the conflict-free standard. Its straightforward for us, said Kolimago. Many things that the rule requires are already built into what we have designed.

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Who will help you plan for retirement a robot or a cyborg ... - Financial Post (blog)

Megan Anderson on Cyborg title fight: ‘It’s my time to shine’ – ESPN (blog)

Megan Anderson, who has won four consecutive fights, will take on Cris 'Cyborg' Justino at UFC 214 for the featherweight belt.

A 27-year-old Aussie by the name of Megan Anderson believes she can upset an all-time great, win a UFC championship and bring stability to a new division -- all in the same night.

Anderson (9-2) is scheduled to face Cris "Cyborg" Justino (17-1), the most dominant female fighter ever, for the UFC's vacant featherweight title at UFC 214 on July 29 in Anaheim. Officials announced the 145-pound bout Monday.

Anderson, who fights out of Kansas City, told ESPN.com she's signed a multifight deal with the UFC. In doing so, she arguably becomes the first natural 145-pound female to ever sign with the promotion. Justino obviously has a UFC contract as well, but she was originally brought in to compete at a lower weight class.

Despite the UFC officially adding a 145-pound female weight class, there's been little evidence it is actually interested in building it. Anderson believes she'll provide a clearer outlook on the division July 29, win or lose.

Cris "Cyborg" Justino will face Megan Anderson in the co-main event of UFC 214 for the newly vacant women's featherweight championship after the belt was taken from current titleholder Germaine de Randamie.

Germaine de Randamie says her reasons for not fighting Cris "Cyborg" Justino has "nothing at all to do with my fear" of her.

1 Related

"I definitely think the UFC created this division around one person [Justino], but unfortunately I don't think she is someone you can build around," Anderson said. "As dominant as she's been, she doesn't have the other aspects it takes for that. I do.

"And I think by signing a multifight agreement -- say worst-case scenario, it doesn't work out as planned on July 29, and the UFC cuts me? That would just reiterate that they're not invested in 145 pounds. So I think whatever the UFC's plan is for me, whether I win or lose this fight, will show how they view this division."

Not that Anderson has any plans of losing. She'll enter the UFC as the reigning Invicta FC champion, a title she inherited in March, when Justino vacated the belt.

It's a fight Anderson campaigned for -- even though she's only been fighting professionally since 2013. Justino, on the other hand, has been one of the original pioneers of female MMA. She made her pro debut in 2005.

"It's no longer about the length of time you've had in the sport," Anderson said. "It's about hunger and dedication. And just because I've been doing this for less time doesn't mean I'm less deserving.

"I have an amazing team behind me and I know what I'm capable of. Honestly, I think it's my time to shine and it's time for someone new -- someone exciting, someone relatable -- to take that torch of the best 145-pound female in the world."

The UFC's initial rollout of this division has been a disaster to say the least. The promotion wanted to feature Justino in its inaugural 145-pound title fight in February, but Justino turned the date down, saying she required more time.

That prompted the UFC to book a championship fight between two bantamweights: Germaine de Randamie and Holly Holm. De Randamie won the bout in controversial fashion at UFC 208, and then outright refused to face Justino. The UFC eventually elected to strip her of the title and basically start over.

Rather than turn immediately to Anderson, the UFC looked into pairing Justino with another natural bantamweight in Cat Zingano, who hasn't recorded a win since 2014. Ultimately, Zingano couldn't accept due to personal reasons.

All of this has added to the perception the UFC isn't fully invested in the division. Prior to getting the fight with Justino, Anderson had decided to move on and scheduled an Invicta title defense against Helena Kolesnyk on July 15. The minute that event was announced, however, Anderson said the UFC came calling with the Justino offer.

"We'd obviously been campaigning for that fight, probably for three weeks, but the UFC had told us it wasn't happening," Anderson said. "So, we went to Invicta and said, 'Get us an opponent.' We signed that bout agreement, and not more than six hours later, the UFC called and said, 'Hey, let's look at that Justino matchup.'

"I don't know what was going on in their head. They knew we wanted the fight this whole time. We finally said, 'OK, fine' and we sign another fight. Then all of a sudden they're like, 'Oh wait, we're back.' At least it all seems to have worked out."

The UFC's new division will enjoy its greatest stage yet on July 29 -- the same evening as a scheduled rivalry between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones. What happens to it after that is anyone's guess.

In addition to UFC gold, Anderson is looking forward to providing the division its first sense of identity.

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Megan Anderson on Cyborg title fight: 'It's my time to shine' - ESPN (blog)

Meet Big Thick, Choc, Cyborg and the gang: What if the Miami Hurricanes could wear nicknames on their jerseys? – MyPalmBeachPost (blog)

The Hurricanes have no shortage of player nicknames and most likely, creative ideas for customizing cleats. (Getty Images/Post illustration)

A pro sports league is bucking decades of tradition and doing something fun.

According to a memo obtained by Yahoo Sports, Major League Baseball will allow players to wear nicknames on the back of their jerseys, like theshort-lived XFLonce did. The ballplayers can also wear crazy colorful shoes and personalize a patch paying tribute to someone instrumental in their development. MLB and its players association worked out a deal for the event, called Players Weekend, to run Aug. 25-27.

This makes us wonder: what would a Players Day look like at Miami?

Obviously there would be outstanding cleat designs, especially at a school thats already done the personalized footwear thing. That was one guy painting more than 100 pairs, though, and they generally looked the same. With leeway to go outside the team-issued colors, wed probably see guys trying to look like Odell Beckham Jr.and Cam Newton,plushometown tributes and a lot more.

But maybe not, since, you know, professional players can use part of their big-money paychecks on custom gear. Amateurs cant do that. Anyway.

That brings us to the nicknames. College players are all over social media, which presents myriad opportunity to hang on oneself a creative tag. So, we can already see how certain guys may lean, given free reign. For purposes of this exercise, were assuming the role of nickname coordinator. Some we wont touch. Others may need a little help.

Either way, lets dive deep on this one, shall we?

Possible nicknames for a Miami Hurricanes Players Day:

Defensive tackle Kendrick Norton Big Thick. Were starting strong. Seems to date back to high school, as seen here. Norton is 6-foot-3 and 315 or so pounds. Perfect nickname for a run-stuffing, quarterback-harassing monster in the middle who has a good sense of humor.

Defensive end Chad Thomas MajorNine. All I know is I can talk about why, but Miami cant.

Linebacker Zach McCloud Cyborg. Not sure who gave him the nickname, but it refers to how McCloud played most of last season with a robotic-looking arm. He doesnt want to wear the brace this year, now that his hyperextended elbow has healed, but he may have to if hes putting that name on his back. Who doesnt want a Cyborg at Sam linebacker?

Running back Trayone Gray Choc. A family-given tag stemming from his childhood love of sweets. Its excellent, and its rare you hear a teammate call him something different. As former offensive coordinator James Coley used to say, Everyone loves Choc.

Defensive end Joe Jackson Not that theres anything wrong with Joe Jack or Joedy, a couple real-life monikers he goes by, but Im tempted to call the 6-5, 250-pound sophomore Gladiator after hearing Thomas use that word to describe his physique last year. We need more mighty nicknames. (We need more good sports nicknames of any kind, as some have argued.)

Defensive end Demetrius Jackson Another name-generated one: D-Jack. Id like to see The Deacon catch on, as a reference to his involvement in his church (and a nod to one of the meanest D-ends of all time).

Could go the same route with freshman running back Robert Burns: The Preacher.

Miamis last staff called defensive endTrent HarrisToolbox, and the new coaches saw no reason to change that. Rightfully so. Ideal name for a trustworthy guy with a lot of skills.

Wide receiver Braxton Berrios Hnynut Berrios, a perfect play on his name. Here we are using the preferred online spelling. Creative. A Canes Internet 2014 classic, like Trinidad Brad.

Cornerback Michael Jackson Thriller. Easy, but hey. No mere mortal can resist.

Freshman linebackerBradley Jennings Jr.s pops earned the nickname Monster at Florida State for his bone-crunching hits. Why not continue the legacy? See if you can earn it.

Defensive endJonathan Garvins nickname is Neo, which is a family name.

A group of name-based ones already in use:

Linebacker Darrion Owens instantly becameD.O. when he stepped on campus.

Wide receiver Ahmmon Richards has A.R. as his Twitter handle. UM would like him to one day be known as All-American sophomore wide receiver Ahmmon Richards.

Defensive tackle Gerald Willis is Gee.

Friends call safety Robert Knowles Ra-Ra.

LinebackerTerry McCrayis T-Mac, or if he isnt, should be.

Offensive linemanKai-Leon Herbertshortens his social media handles to K. Herb.

I wonder if anyone has ever called offensive linemanZach DykstraLenny. I doubt they are related.

Patch, obviously, is defensive endScott Patchan.

KickerMichael Badgleyis Badge, though a former UM head coach called him Jersey Mike.

LinebackerJamie Gordinier would be Gordo in most locker rooms.

Freshman punterJeff Feagleswill be Feags, Im sure, and tight endBrian Polendeycan be Poe.

PunterJack Spicer is Spice, unless you want to make a reference to a beleaguered White House Press Secretary.

No reason we shouldnt refer to quarterbackEvan Shirreffsas simply, The Sheriff no matter what type of gunslinging he does.

Malik Rosier (right) could honor Russell Wilson with his nickname, and perhaps, his playing style. (AP/Miami Herald photos)

QuarterbackMalik Rosierused to put Russell Jr. as his Twitter handle, as a nod to fellow mobile quarterback and semi-lookalike Russell Wilson. Unless he wants to move on from that, Im fine with it. If he wins the starting job and performs well, even better.

Do not callquarterbackVincent TestaverdeVinnys Kid, unless you want to sound old. He goes by Young Vinn.

Based on theknee injurieshe overcame and underdog status in the quarterback race, maybeCade Weldoncould be The Comeback Kid.

Quarterback NKosi Perry goes by Kosi, though if he wins the starting job, fans will no doubt anoint him something Messiah-like.

Another potential freshman standout, offensive lineman Navaughn Donaldson (6-6, 350), is appropriately called Big Vaughn, though better nicknames could be coming.

Wide receiverDeeJay 13K Dallaspicked up a good one on the recruiting trail: The Ambassador.

CornerbackRyan Mayesgoes by Rico. That works.

LinebackerCharles Perrycould throw it back to the PBGametime days and call himself King Perry. Its that, or C.P. Similarly, safetyAmari Carteris A.C.

ReceiverDayall Harrishas King Dayall on his Twitter, though I wondered if anyone called him Big Country when I first heard his deep-in-the-heart-of-Mississippi speaking accent.

Waynmon Steeds name is so unique I dont want to touch it, but his Twitter handle They Envy Wayne is even better. Got a little He Hate Me flavor to it. A winner all around.

Im stuck on nicknames for new additions Mike Harley(something about his size and speed, for sure. I might borrow from a hockey legend and go Pocket Rocket.). Jhavonte Dean (Jah or Tae seem right),Derrick Smith(big, imposing safety. We clearly need something better than Smitty here). Anyone got anything for reserve cornerbackTerrance Henley?

Struggling with offensive linemen, too. Like Kc McDermott(Ive never heard anyone call him Big Mac),Hayden Mahoney (of Irish descent, for what its worth), Corey Gaynor (Bad Intentions, based on what his high school coach says he harbors for opponents), Nick Linder (Canes media called him Baby Linder for a time, since his brother had just left the program), Trevor Darling, Tyler Gauthier, Zalontae Hillery, Tre Johnson, Jahair Jones, Tyree St. Louis andBar Milo(The Hebrew Hammer has been done, and really only works if hes a linebacker or safety).

Im also unsure ofChris Herndon. Hes an excellent tight end. Very versatile player. Ive called him Miamis Swiss Army knife, but that doesnt sing. Suggestions welcome.

If freshman linebacker DeAndre Wilderwears No. 11 at UM, as he did on his official visit, Sticks is a possibility. His Twitter handle includes the nickname EyeCandy in it, which is in itself very good.

Cornerback Trajan Bandy Trajan Bandy is already a great name, and Im good with just Bandy on the back. Tra Bands if you need to have a nickname, I guess.

Same deal with safetyRomeo Finley. Romeo is good. His numbers 30, so Im offering Rom30 free of charge.

Cornerback Sheldrick Redwine Why mess with Redwine on the back of a jersey? Its so good. We could go Red, which is what people call him, but cmon. Redwine.

Who could blame Mark Walton if he wanted to get a little braggadocious? (Post photo, Post illustration)

Im taking suggestions for running back Mark Walton, a player with a supremely important role on the team. The Franchise? The Chosen 1?

Linebacker Michael Pinckney, a player with a loquacious personality, deserves more than just Pink. Same with linebacker Shaquille Shaq Quarterman. Open to suggestions for both. The screen names are 56 Nightmares and OG Boobie Shaq, respectively. Maybe we can mine something from that.

Dread-headed linebacker Mike Smithhas been on social media as Rasta Mike, and that works just fine.

We know this about freshman defensive tackleJon Ford:He is built like a truck (6-5, 275), and you can probably call him Ford Tough. Ideally, he would make quality (play) his job one, and he would not need to be fixed or repaired (at all, much less) daily.

Now that defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad is in the NFL, safety Jaquan Johnson is the only Quan on the team, though his social handle includes the phrase Authentic Made. It is important to be authentic made, a wise man once said.

Same AQM deal with running backTravis Homer, who goes by Chief. The former Chief of Coral Gables,David Njoku, likely approves, since that was one of his handles.

Cornerback Malek Young uses Humble Child on social media, and theres nothing wrong with being humble. Throw a comma in there, and you have a cocky directive to opposing receivers.

Defensive end R.J. McIntosh uses Big 80, and thatd look great as a nameplate-number combo. No issue there.

Im going to put in a recommendation kickerDiego Marquezdye his blue streak of hair red, so he can be Rufio.

I very much like wide receiver Lawrence Cagers handle, for a 6-5, 215-pound wideout who can dance: Smooth. Also fine: Cage. UM hopes youll have to learn one of them or yet another by seasons end.

Another big wideout,Evidence Njoku, can be E83, if you dont want to make a play on his first name or famous brother. Big Easy also works. Taken from basketball, like some of Njokus pass-catching ability.

Not to sound harsh, but Im not sure what to do with wideoutsDionte MullinsorDarrell Langham,or defensive tackles Pat BethelorAnthony Moten. But let me introduce you todefensive tackleTyreicThe FreakMartin,which is a nickname lazily borrowed from the last Tyriq (McCord) at UM. Were wrapping this up soon.

Wide receiver Jeff Thomas might win the day with what his Twitter handle gives us. A nameplate with There Goes over the number 4. That is outstanding. One of the fastest players on the team, and when he blows by you, all you can say is

Tight end Michael Irvin IIsscreen name, for reasons I dont know, is Yung Tut. This is already awesome, and should not be messed with. Dont try to force a Playmaker II in there. Yung Tut it is.

Offensive tackle George Brown Jr. uses MADDAWG_70 or just MADDAWG, but Im sorry, Im not really feeling it. Lets try this. Hes from Cincinnati. Skyline has an imposing connotation for a guy whos 6-7, 300 just hope he doesnt disappoint like Cincinnati chili (or the 2015 Canes in Cincinnati. Too soon?)

Cornerback Dee Delaney A winning user handle: DeeThatGuy. I would want someone on my team willing to be That Guy.

Defensive end D.J. Johnson The Predator. Yup, absolutely.

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Meet Big Thick, Choc, Cyborg and the gang: What if the Miami Hurricanes could wear nicknames on their jerseys? - MyPalmBeachPost (blog)

Humanity’s next Stage of Evolution Could Be the Cyborg – Futurism

In Brief As medical advancements in robotics, implants, and other assisting technologies continue, will we, as humans, eventually evolve into a species of cyborgs? What would this mean for society as we know it? The Next Evolution

Cyborgs: humans who have been merged with machines; a hybrid of sorts. What was once the subject of far-out science fiction has now entered reality as a medical tool. From implants to robotics, there is a whole host of emerging technologies that aim to treat health conditions and aid those suffering from different disabilities by turning people into, technically, cyborgs.

It might seem to be going too far to use the term cyborg when discussing, for instance, new versions of prosthetic limbs. However, carbon fiber and titanium prostheses are now commonplace, and most artificial limbs are fully functional. For example, in the video below, you can see the dexterity and capabilities of one prosthetic arm. Since this video was created, prostheses have advanced even further, with researchers going so far as to create robotic hands that can be controlled with ones brain and they have a sense of touch.

Artificial limb technologies like the blades used by Paralympians are even so advanced that some have started to discuss whether or not they are more capable than organic limbs. But artificial limbs arent the only advancements in so-called cyborg tech. One Swedish company is implanting its employees with microchips to allow them to do things like access doors with the wave of a hand instead of with a key. Elon Musk thinks that his neural lace could actually make human beings smarter. Many are experimenting with the many possibilities of merging humankind with machines.

The authors of a recent paper in Science Robotics discussed the potential issues with the future of such technologies:

There needs to be a debate on the future evolution of technologies as the pace of robotics and AI is accelerating. It seems certain that future assistive technologies will not only compensate for human disability but also drive human capacities beyond our innate physiological levels. The associated transformative influence will bring on broad social, political, and economic issues.

Once we officially cross that line, once the technologies that we create to assist those with difficulties and disabilities begin to advance human capabilities beyond what is biologically possible, we will have a teeming variety of moral and practical issues to deal with. Many believe that this will be humanitys next step in evolution. Indeed, ifwe are ever going to colonize Mars and expand our reign in the Solar System, that might be a necessary evolution. Whatever moral and ethical quandariesmay exist, it might not be possible for us to take such large strides without becoming cyborgs.

So, more likely than not, the day will come and we will cross that line. Will cyborg humans have the same rights and be bound by the same laws as biologically ordinary citizens? Will cyborgs be vulnerable to hacking and manipulation? Will warfare forever change with the possible advancement of military exoskeletons? The list goes on and on. And so, while we might not all be walking around as half-machines just yet, it might be a good idea to plan ahead.

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Humanity's next Stage of Evolution Could Be the Cyborg - Futurism

Cris Cyborg vs. Megan Anderson for women’s featherweight title in the works for UFC 214 – FOXSports.com

It appears the UFC is ready to move forward with the womens featherweight division.

Long considered the best 145-pound fighter on the planet, Cris Cyborg Justino is expected to meet current Invicta FC featherweight champion Megan Anderson at UFC 214 in Anaheim on July 29.

Sources close to the matchup confirmed the fight is in the works when speaking to FOX Sports late Friday following an initial report from MMAFighting.com.

UFC officials have not announced the matchup as of yet.

If the fight becomes official, it would be the second ever womens featherweight fight in the UFC after Germaine de Randamie was crowned champion back in February with a very close decision win over Holly Holm. Unfortunately after the win, de Randamie was nursing a hand injury while also refusing to face Cyborg after accusing the former Strikeforce champion of performance-enhancing drug use.

Germaine and her team have talked, and the position is that she will not fight Cyborg because Cyborg is a known and proven cheater, de Randamies manager Brian Butler said to FOX Sports in May. Even after so much scrutiny has been put on Cyborg, she still managed to pop for something and will always be a person of suspicion who is trying to beat the system rather than just conforming to the rules.

Cyborg had previously tested positive for steroids in 2011 and faced a year suspension for the infraction. More recently, Cyborg was exonerated for a positive drug test after she was granted a retroactive therapeutic use exemption by USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) for legitimate medical use of a banned substance.

Still, de Randamie refused to accept the fight so it appears the UFC is ready to move forward with the division by crowning a new champion.

Cyborg (17-1, 1 NC) has been a terror during her reign as the best womens featherweight in the world. Shes only fought twice in the UFC both contests taking place at 140 pounds and shes earned two straight TKO victories in those bouts.

As for Anderson (8-2) shes looking to make her UFC debut after amassing an impressive record in Invicta FC, including four straight wins, including a title fight victory over Charmaine Tweet in January to become champion.

Now it looks like the UFC is nearly ready to pull the trigger on the matchup that will see Cyborg face Anderson in a featherweight title match in July.

UFC 214 will be headlined by light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier taking on Jon Jones in a grudge match for the ages and assuming Cyborg vs. Anderson is signed, sealed and delivered, it would serve as the co-main event on the card.

Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

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Cris Cyborg vs. Megan Anderson for women's featherweight title in the works for UFC 214 - FOXSports.com

Cyborg Justino expected to face Megan Anderson at UFC 214 – Sporting News

The UFC has penciled in a womens featherweight title bout between Cris Cyborg Justino and Megan Anderson as the co-main event of UFC 214, set for July 29 in Anaheim, MMA Fighting reports.

A formal announcement is expected to be forthcoming.

Germaine de Randamie beat Holly Holm in February to become the inaugural champ of the womens featherweight division, but she refuses to fight Justino, citing Cyborgs drug testing history.

Justino (17-1, 1 NC) was suspended by USADA but later granted a retroactive therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for Spironolactone, a physician-prescribed diuretic, and she was sanctioned by neither the anti-doping organization nor the UFC.

Nevertheless, de Randamies manager Brian Butler told MMA Fighting last month, the position is that she will not fight Cyborg because Cyborg is a known and proven cheater.

Justinos fight against Anderson will be her first at 145 pounds, a more natural weight for her than the 135 pounds at which bantamweights fight. She has had some scary incidents while cutting weight before fights.

Anderson (8-2) appears to be the UFCs third choice for Cyborgs next opponent. Per the MMA Fighting report, the Cat Zingano came after de Randamie on the promotion's wish list, but Zingano is dealing with undisclosed health issues and would not have been ready by July 29.

Cyborg and Anderson, the current Invicta champ, have been lobbying for a fight against each other.

Cris and I are the top featherweights in the world, the Australian said.

Justino, who is from Brazil, added, I am very excited about this fight, and I called out this fight a long time, because I think shes a 145-pounder. This fight was supposed to happen a long time ago, and then no happen because her manager talked to the UFC and thought she needed more time, needed more fights. But they think this is the real fight. This is the real fight for the belt at 145.

The light heavyweight title bout, arematch between Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones 2, is slated to headline the UFC 214 card at Honda Center.

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Cyborg Justino expected to face Megan Anderson at UFC 214 - Sporting News

Aussie Megan Anderson is set to fight Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino for 145 … – Perth Now

AUSTRALIA may soon have a UFC champion and were not talking about Robert Whittaker.

Invicta FC champion Megan Anderson looks set to be given a shot at Brazilian knockout artist Cris Cyborg Justino for the 145-pound title at UFC 214 on July 29 in Anaheim, California.

Thats according to a report in http://www.mma fighting.com, which says the title fight will be made more complicated by the fact that the current holder of the belt is Germaine de Randamie.

The Dutch-born fighter, however, has been inactive and is nursing an injured hand since she became the inaugural champion in February by defeating Holly Holm via a controversial decision.

De Randamie has also made it clear, through her manager, that she has no plans of fighting Cyborg.

Germaine and her team have talked, and the position is that she will not fight Cyborg because Cyborg is a known and proven cheater, manager Brian Butler said in late May.

Even after so much scrutiny has been put on Cyborg, she still managed to pop for something and will always be a person of suspicion who is trying to beat the system rather than just conforming to the rules.

For that reason, Germaine and her team dont believe that Cyborg should be allowed to compete in the UFC at all. If that is the only fight the UFC wants, then Germaine is willing to wait and see if the UFC will strip her belt before making her next move.

Thats exactly what the UFC appears to be about to do, with Andersons fight set to be officially announced in the coming days.

Cris and I are the top featherweights in the world, Anderson said. It should have been us, but it wasnt. Its fine, but lets do it now.

The 27-year-old Anderson (8-2) took over Invicta FCs 145-pound division after Cyborg left for UFC and having beaten Charmaine Tweet in January to become the interim champion.

Anderson has won her last four fights in a row. She was booked to defend the Invicta title against Helena Kolesnyk at Invicta FC 24 on July 15 last week, but that fight is expected to be canceled.

She is a very big featherweight (four inches taller than Cyborg) and would be a formidable opponent for Cyborg, who is widely considered the best fighter in womens MMA today.

Since March, Anderson and Cyborg have been pushing to fight each other in the UFC via social media and the press.

I am very excited about this fight, and I called out this fight a long time, because I think shes a 145-pounder, Cyborg said. This fight was supposed to happen a long time ago, and then no happen because her manager talked to the UFC and thought she needed more time, needed more fights. But they think this is the real fight. This is the real fight for the belt at 145.

UFC 214 will take place at the Honda Center and will feature a main event clash between current UFC light heavyweight holder Daniel Cormier and former divisional champ Jon Jones.

Originally published as The Aussie who may become our first UFC champion

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Aussie Megan Anderson is set to fight Cris 'Cyborg' Justino for 145 ... - Perth Now