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'Cyborg' Justino: 'I'm not going to wait' for UFC champ Germaine de Randamie MMAjunkie.com Cyborg (17-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) said she's without a doubt the No. 1 contender, provided she receives a retroactive therapeutic-use exemption from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which, as a UFC partner, temporarily suspended her after she failed an ... Cris Cyborg thinks it's funny that Germaine de Randamie is asking for Holly Holm rematchMMA Fighting Cyborg: 'Until someone beats me, I am No. 1 in the world'Bloody Elbow Cris Cyborg sends a strong message to new UFC champ Germaine de RandamieFox News MMAmania.com -Yahoo Sports -MMA Fighting -FOXSports.com all 103 news articles »

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'Cyborg' Justino: 'I'm not going to wait' for UFC champ Germaine de Randamie - MMAjunkie.com

When Germaine de Ramanie beat Holly Holm in their controversial UFC 208 bout to become the first womens featherweight champion, uncertainty loomed over the division. With no clear title contender in sight, fight fans wondered if the newly created division would fizzle out almost as soon as it began. On Friday, however, MMA fans got good news Cris Cyborg Justino, the worlds top female featherweight, has been cleared to return to action.

Cyborgs title hopes were put on hold for the last two months after she popped an out-of-competition drug test in December. The 31-year-old Brazilian maintained her innocence and vowed to clear her name.

On Friday, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency cleared her use of spironolactone, a diuretic that can be used to mask the use of other drugs, including steroids.

[Paige VanZant trains with Cris Cyborg]

Upon notice of her positive test, Justino immediately identified a medication prescribed by her physician for the treatment of a common endocrine disorder as the source of the prohibited substance detected in her sample, the USADA wrote in a statement released Friday night. She also participated in multiple interviews with USADAs investigative team and consented to USADA interviewing her physician as well.

After a thorough investigation of the circumstances that preceded her positive test, which included a comprehensive review of Justinos documented medical history, USADA accepted Justinos explanation that her use of spironolactone began in late September, following her bout at UFC Fight Night Brasilia, and was in accordance with her physicians recommendation for the treatment of a legitimate medical condition, said USADA in a statement.

Justino said in December she uses the medication to prevent the development of ovarian cysts and hypertension connected to the potassium loss and electrolyte hydroelectric imbalance she said she suffered after beating Lina Lansberg on Sept. 24 at UFC Fight Night 95.

On Friday, USADA agreed Justinos use of low doses of the spironolactone would return the athlete to a normal state of health without providing a performance-enhancing benefit, and approved a Therapeutic Use Exemption, or TUE, to be applied retroactively to when Justino began taking the medication.

Upon hearing of her clearance, Justino wrote on Instagram that she was extremely happy about USADAs decision, adding, I look forward to returning to the octagon as soon as possible, and proving that I am the Pound-for-Pound champion of (womens) MMA.

While her goal is to win the new UFC title, current champion de Randamie first wants a rematch with Holm, who has filed an appeal with the New York State Athletic Commission complaining of a couple of late hits de Randamie delivered after two round-ending bells.

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USADA clears Cris Cyborg of doping, paving path for a UFC featherweight title shot - Washington Post

(This story first was published at USA TODAY Sports.)

Just when the UFC looked to be reeling after collecting a series of metaphorical bloody noses, it came leaping off the canvas with a double dose of positive news Friday.

OK, enough with the tired fight-related clichs, but the revelations that MMAicon Georges St-Pierre will return to the sport after a three-year layoff, followed soon after by womens superstar Cristiane Justino being cleared of a doping infraction, meant a huge day for the UFC and PresidentDana White.

It also spelled a comeback of sorts, following a disappointing couple of months for the organization.

The recent narrative for UFC has hardly been positive. Last summers sale of the company to WME-IMG for $4.2 billion lined the bank accounts of White and his business partners, the Fertitta brothers, yet created other headaches.

Suddenly, and legitimately, fighters wanted a greater piece of the pie, and every contractual negotiation White has entered into since has been significantly more fraught than in the past.

The UFC is now in a superstar-driven era and they dont come any bigger in UFC history than St-Pierre. The Canadian, 35, never officially announced his retirement but was widely thought to be done, and completing a deal to bring him back is a major coup.

Crossover star power is what the UFC has long coveted, but it brings issues of its own. Sometimes the big names fail to live up to the hype and are exposed, brutally so, like Ronda Rousey, whom White admitted recently might never be seen in an octagon again after a second consecutive crushing defeat, doled out by Amanda Nunes on Dec. 30.

Sometimes the star only rises, like Conor McGregor, and that doesnt stop the problems from mounting either. McGregor is now so big that he is not just demanding all-time record paydays but also a stake in UFC equity, while having his head turned outside of MMA, with a boxing match between him and Floyd Mayweather, incredibly, appearing to move closer to fruition.

Given that the UFCs recent approach has been to build its calendar around marquee names on the biggest dates, it had suddenly found itself short of firepower. No Rousey, not for a while at least. No McGregor, certainly not until after his baby is born later this year and maybe not for quite some time after that. No Jon Jones, who is serving a suspension due to a doping infraction.

All this is why having St-Pierre back matters so much. He is an icon in the sport, having made his UFC debut 13 years ago and lost only twice, to Matt Hughes and Matt Serra before, later avenging both defeats.

His victory over Jake Shields at UFC 129 drew a record crowd of 55,724 at Torontos Rogers Centre, a number only beaten in 2015 when Rousey and Holly Holm faced off in Australia.

In the most unpredictable of sports, St-Pierre racked up a streak of 12 consecutive victories before finishing up in 2013 with wins over Nick Diaz and Johny Hendricks.

A lot has changed since then. After losing to St-Pierre, Hendricks went to the top of the heap, becoming welterweight champion, then to the edge of the scrapheap, having lost four of his last five fights and three in a row in 2016.

Diazs brother, Nate, has remarkably ridden his irreverent personality and non-conformist nature to become one of the biggest draws in the company. And standards of athleticism and professionalism, two facets in which St-Pierre was unrivaled, have risen greatly.

St. Pierres return will be perhaps the most anticipated fight of the year. No opponent has yet been announced, though middleweight champ Michael Bisping and welterweight forces Tyron Woodley and Stephen Thompson could be high on the list.

Having an event like that on the radar will likely help UFC fans forget about last weeks UFC 208 snoozer, which offered poor value for money with a series of disappointing, low-action fights, topped by a dull main event for the womens featherweight title, won by Germaine de Randamie against Holm.

Fridays announcement that Cyborg, widely considered the best womens fighter in the world, is cleared to compete after being granted a retroactive therapeutic use exemption after testing positive for a banned diuretic, capped a day for White where everything went right.

Given that the UFC essentially created a womens featherweight division solely to accommodate Justino, the sense of relief was palpable. Already the speculation as to whom, and when, Justino and St-Pierre would fight, is underway.

And just like that, the UFCs comeback was starting to gather momentum.

For more on the UFC, visit the Rumors section of the site.

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UFC back in business with return of 'Cyborg' Justino, Georges St-Pierre - MMAjunkie.com

New UFC featherweight champion Germaine de Randamies next move could be a rematch with Holly Holm. Or matchup with Cris Cyborg Justino. Or hand surgery.

In a Thursday media teleconference, de Randamie, calling in from Holland, said shes yet to see a doctor regarding the ligament injuries to which she briefly alluded in the cage following her UFC 208 decision win over Holm at Brooklyns Barclays Center.

At this point I havent been able to see a doctor yet, de Randamie said. They will evaluate and then Ill know what the next thing will be.

De Randamie explained that an old ligament injury, initially suffered in a 2015 TKO win over Larissa Pacheco, flared up in training camp leading up to the Holm fight. At the time, her doctor advised that while should could probably go through with the Holm fight, shed need a procedure eventually one way or another.

I injured my hand after a fighter with Larissa Pachenko, de Randamie said. I continued to train, I train and I train and it bothered me for a long time. During this camp it started bothering me more and more, so Ive been with an orthopedic surgeon, a hand specialist, he said you probably need surgery because you have some torn ligaments in the hand. He said you could fight first, but after the fight is over you have to come over and see what we can do.

The surgery talks has led some to claim that de Randamie is ducking Cyborg, the former Strikeforce and current Invicta featherweight champion, particularly since de Randamie offered Holm a rematch first.

De Randamie said shes not concerned with what critics think.

I really dont take it personal, de Randamie said. Everyone is entitled to say whatever they want to say. I know Im not afraid and I know I will fight everybody. Right now theres a lot going on right now and my focus is somewhere else. At the end of the day, its been five days since I fought for the UFC belt and Ive been so busy, so happy, and havent really had time to enjoy it. Right now Im going to enjoy it, Im going to see a doctor, and whatever happens after that, happens after that.

Justino is currently under temporary suspension by USADA due to testing positive for a banned diuretic in an out-of-competition test administered in December. She is attempting to receive a retroactive therapeutic use exemption for drug.

For her part, de Randamie says she doesnt know enough about the situation to make an informed comment.

To be honest, if she gets the exemption, I think thats up to Cris and the athletic commission, de Randamie said. I dont know much about this stuff she asks exemption so I should first read up before I make a statement about that. If they give her an exemption, there must be a good reason for it.

Beyond that, de Randamie wants to wait until she hears back from her doctor before committing to any of the options in front of her.

I think its going to depend on what my doctors say. I have to go back to the doctor. theyre going to see what the damage is and whats the extent of the damage. Theyre going to decide if its a smart decision to fight or go to the surgery first.

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Surgery, 'Cyborg' or rematch next? Germaine de Randamie keeping options open - MMA Fighting

Even though Holly Holm didn't win her fight with Germaine de Randamie at UFC 208 (or at least not yet pending an appeal with NYSAC), her team at Jackson-Winkeljohn are still looking ahead to future clashes at 145 pounds, which obviously brings up the specter of Cris Cyborg.

Whenever Cyborg's name tends to come up, we've noticed a trend of fighters humming and hawing about stepping into the cage with her. It's more of the same here, with Holly's coach Mike Winkeljohn telling Submission Radio he'd like to see Cyborg stay clean for a year before he has one of his fighters face her.

"Well you know, things are obvious," Winkeljohn said when asked about potential PED use by Cyborg. "And people are always worried about hurting peoples feelings, but if you look at her over her career, her body did change as time went on. Theres a reason why it changed. Thats it. Its black and white. Lets not lie about it, lets not be politically correct. Its not about hurting feelings. So now its not just that theyre on things and they get the fight time, but density has changed, structures have changed of your body, bone structure has changed. These things are effected by cheating and we cant go back, but at least lets go with keeping things clean for a year so at least the muscles are not getting enhanced as such. I think its only fair. its simple and Im sick and tired of worrying about hurting peoples feelings.

I would recommend [Holly] probably not take [a Cyborg fight] until Cyborg is suspended for a year, because you never know what youre going to get and you never know behind the scenes whos getting tested and whos not. ... People need to be clean to make people fight on a fair level playing field, and I think before Holly were to fight Cyborg she needs to do that.

Well, you actually do know behind the scenes who is getting tested and who isn't, because it's all on USADA's public website. According to its Athlete Test History Database, Cyborg has been tested 14 times since USADA came along last year, which is a pretty solid number of tests. Later in the Submission Radio interview, Mike Winkeljohn lauds Holm for being tested 17 times and even goes so far as to suggest it's because USADA holds a grudge against her for knocking out Ronda Rousey. Yet, we've got Cyborg here with three less tests and shes still assumed to be dirty?

I suppose that's what you're going to get when you look the way Cyborg looks. It doesn't help that she also tested positive for steroids back in 2012. This more recent second drug test failure will forever come up when people question how clean she is, but USADA seems to be on their way to clearing her of any real cheating. And at a certain point, if you're still going to question a fighter that's been tested as much as Cyborg, then what's the point of all this elaborate testing anyways?

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Holly Holm's coach thinks Cris Cyborg needs to stay clean for a year before they fight - MMAmania.com

Whats that thing sticking out of your head? a woman asks the man with a serpentine antenna between his eyes.

Neil Harbisson turns, parts his bowl-cut blond locks, and curves the antenna toward the buttinsky. Its a way to hear color, he says.

Whats it connected to? she asks.

Harbisson looks up at her with smiling, cobalt eyes. My brain.

The North Sense briefly vibrates when the wearer turns to face north.

Courtesy North Sense

At an outdoor cafe at L.A.s Original Farmers Market, passersby are constantly checking out Harbisson, 34, and his partner, Moon Ribas, 31. In her left arm, she has a Bluetooth implant designed to analyze the earths seismic movements. Whats it feel like? Two heartbeats, she says.

Harbisson, whose U.K. passport shows hes the first legally recognized cyborg, was born colorblind. He designed his antennawhich translates colors into one of 360 musical tones hes memorizedback in 2003 with help from a cyberneticist. At first, he connected it to headphones and a laptop. Eventually, he persuaded a surgeon to drill into his skull, implant a chip, and fuse the antenna to his occipital bone.

The couple say merging technology with their bodies has created new senses. We are transspecies, says Ribas, whose three-year-old seismic implant vibrates at different intensities based on data from online seismographs. As with other biohackers, their claimshe says my color registers as an F sharp, for exampleare difficult to verify. But their London startup, Cyborg Nest, is manufacturing DIY kits meant to bring their transhumanism closer to the mainstream.

CEO Babitz was fitted with one in December and compares the experience to a second childhood.

Courtesy North Sense

The first kit, the North Sense, is essentially a $425 wearable implant. It does one simple thing, says co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Liviu Babitz, who was fitted with one in December. A short vibration every time youre facing north. That doesnt sound like an advantage worth body modification, but Babitz likens the experience to a second childhood. I remember my son discovering things as his senses developed and the look in his eyes when it happened, he says. I feel the same.

The sensor itself, a compass chip that detects magnetic fields, is easy to remove. The tough part is installing two pocket-size titanium barbells onto the wearers chest, like a piercing. When the skin heals, typically after a month or two, the silicone-coated North Sense slides onto the implant. Babitz says the sensor is designed to allow the free flow of air and avoid skin irritation, and its waterproof. Its certainly nowhere near as conspicuous as Harbissons antenna, though it goes a step beyond less invasive wearable devices, such as the ankle kit from startup North Paw that also vibrates when facing magnetic north.

Cyborg Nest, launched in 2015 with about $200,000 in pooled funds, began shipping North Senses in February. The company says about 1,000 people have ordered one. (Babitz verifies their identities to make sure theyre adults.) The Romanian, who used to work for the human-rights group Videre Est Credere getting cameras and other technology to oppressed communities to expose government abuses, admits his wife and friends have been skeptical. Then again, he says, laughing, What I did before I started this was no less crazy.

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Journalist Mark OConnell, who wrote To Be a Machine, a book about the transhumanist movement, isnt convinced that the niche use for the North Sense will appeal to a mass audience. I dont see it taking it off, he says. Then again, tattoos are everywhere now.

Babitz declined to discuss Cyborg Nests next projects, but Harbisson and Ribas have a wish list: a Bluetooth tooth for silent communication; a way to detect pollution; eyes in the back of the head. The big question, Harbisson says, is how to adjust a persons mental perspective to accept those kinds of inputs. The body isnt the focus, he says. Modifying our minds is what really changed us.

The bottom line: Cyborg Nest has sold about 1,000 DIY implants that vibrate when a wearer faces north, retraining their sensory comprehension.

View original post here:

This $425 DIY Implant Will Make You a Cyborg - Bloomberg - Bloomberg

The title for iOS and Android has soft-launched in the Philippines, showing off the three as-yet-unannounced heroes.

A mobile version of Injustice 2 has soft-launched in the Philippines and gameplay footage may have inadvertently leaked two as-yet unannounced heroes that could appear in the console version when it launches in May.

The video, from mobile site All-Star Production(via EventHubs), shows off Cyborg, Green Lantern and Scarecrow among the combatants for iOS and Android. Green Lantern had previously been confirmed as playable through an alternate skin, but the other two have not been announced by either developer NetherRealm or publisher Warner Bros. Interactive. The latest revealearlier this weekwas of Cheetah, Catwoman and Poison Ivy, and the official Injustice website has the next hero(es)set to be announcedon February 23.

It is possible that the two could be exclusive to the app, as the free-to-play Injustice: Gods Among Us released in April 2013 alongside the console versions of the game had a few heroes of its own.

The console game is scheduled to be released on May 16 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. As for the mobile title, there is no official release date for it in the United States.

Excerpt from:

Injustice 2 Mobile Gameplay Video Leaks Cyborg and Scarecrow ... - Shacknews

Cris Cyborg Justino knows shes the No. 1 fighter in the world at 145-pounds but she just wants the chance to prove it in the UFC.

Unfortunately, Cyborg isnt at the top of the list when it comes to new champion Germaine de Randamie, who said on Thursday that she believes Holly Holm deserves a rematch before any other possible matchup.

De Randamies reasoning stems from the controversy surrounding her win at UFC 208 as Holm has now filed an appeal with the New York State Athletic Commission alleging that a pair of strikes that happened after the end of a round on two occasions should have been punished thus possibly altering the outcome of the fight.

That led to a fiery chain of responses from Cyborg on Twitter, who accused de Randamie of ducking her when she is undoubtedly the true No. 1 contender at 145-pounds.

10 years unbeaten in MMA. No. 1 world ranking by ESPN and FOX Sports. Youre not a world champ until someone beats me and you know that! Cyborg said on Twitter.

Its tough to dispute Cyborgs reasoning considering shes been universally ranked as the best womens fighter at 145-pounds for nearly a decade while running roughshod over virtually every competitor to step in the cage with her.

Cyborg was unable to compete for the inaugural UFC featherweight title after she endured a very arduous weight cut for her last fight in September before she was provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance a few months later.

Cyborg has maintained her innocence in that matter due to her doctor prescribing the drug that was deemed illegal but she is currently applying for a retroactive therapeutic use exemption that she hopes will allow her to return to action sooner rather than later.

Of course, the final decision will ultimately come down to the UFC and there has been no word on who will end up getting the first crack at de Randamie when she defends her title later this year.

Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

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Cris Cyborg blasts Germaine de Randamie for asking for rematch with Holly Holm - FOXSports.com

Wednesday, 15 February 2017 19:43 GMT By Stephany Nunneley

NetherRealm Studios said during Comic Con last year a mobile version of Injustice 2 would be released. Well, it has but only in the Philippines.

Its a soft launch, so expect to hear more on its release closer to Injustice 2 hitting shelves for PS4 and Xbox One.

Thanks to a gameplay video from All Star Production though, we can get a look at the iOS and Android title a bit early.

As noticed by Event Hubs, the video not only shows gameplay, but two characters which have yet to be announced for the console version: Cyborg and Scarecrow.

Earlier this week we were given a look at Cheetah, Catwoman and Poison Ivy, and the Injustice website notes the next character reveal will take place on February 23, so its possible both Cyborg and Scarecrow, or one of the two, will be announced. Or it could be someone else entirely.

A western release date hasnt been announced for Injustice 2 on mobile and tablet, but the core game is out on PS4 and Xbox One May 16.

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Injustice 2 mobile soft launch produces gameplay trailer featuring ... - VG247

Exoskeleton.Paul Albertella/Flickr

Elon Musk recently expressed his sentiments with regards to the advancement of artificial intelligence technology and how humans should become cyborgs in order to keep up with the machines. Now, DARPA commented on the issue, saying that its scientists are actually working on making this happen right now. In fact, it would seem that humans are closer to becoming cyborgs than anyone would think.

There are many examples of humans incorporating technology into their bodies, from amputees getting artificial limbs to heart patients getting pacemakers. Speaking to Computerworld, DARPAs Biological Technologies Office Director Justin Sanchez explains that becoming part machine is something that is already happening in the world.

"There are a couple of very interesting things happening as we speak facilitating humans and machines working together in a very different way," Sanchez said.

With regards to technology that could give humans capabilities that are usually attributed to how becoming a cyborg works, there are now exoskeletons that boost the strength of soldiers. There are also computer chips that can help blind people see in a limited capacity and help paralyzed patients walk again.

This is just the tip of the iceberg as well. With the advent of the advanced gene editing tool called CRISPR, its possible to advance human-machine interaction to the next level in a decade or so. If it can be used to cure cancer, it can also be used to make humans more compatible with robotics.

"I think the recent science and technology developments we're making at DARPA, as well as the embracing of physiology and A.I., is enabling us to set up the conditions for profound changes on how humans and machines can work together," Sanchez said.

Its worth noting that this doesnt stop with the technology side of things. Theres also the concern about what humanity will look like if machine synthesis becomes a real thing, Futurism reports. Sanchez also acknowledges that developing this kind of technology comes with a lot of responsibility.

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DARPA Is Looking Into Cyborg Technology, It's Actually Happening - EconoTimes

Cris "Cyborg" JustinoJason Silva-USA TODAY Sports Scott HarrisMMA Lead Writer February 13, 2017

Cristiane "Cyborg" Justino is the 145-pound elephant in the UFC's newest room.The UFC's newest champion, Germaine de Randamie, doesn't seem ready to face that elephant yet.

Sooner or later, though, she'll have to. The elephant demands nothing less.

"If you want to be world champ, you cannot choose [an] opponent. You have to fight anybody," Justino said Monday on The MMA Hour broadcast with host Ariel Helwani. "You cannot run. And I felt those girls run from me, you know? It's funny. It's funny for me, but you cannot run forever. You have to fight. And now you have the belt."

That belt is the inaugural UFC women's featherweight title, which De Randamie won in controversial fashion Saturday at UFC 208 with a decision win over Holly Holm.

Women's featherweight is Cyborg's house, though, and everybody knows it. Justino is widely regarded as the best female MMA fighter in any galaxy or weight classthe UFC established the new division essentially as a showcase for Cyborg.

But when UFC brass approached her about a fight, Cyborg said she wanted to wait until the spring to allow her body to recover from two brutal cuts to 140 poundsthe catchweight at which she competed in her first two UFC contests. (Cyborg said Monday she walks around at about 170 pounds.)

The UFC chose not to wait, instead booking Holm versus De Randamie for UFC 208. Every observer assumed the winner was keeping the belt safe and comfortable until Cyborg could come and get it.

There's just one problem: Cyborg (17-1-1) is darn scary. Without coming right out and admitting it, De Randamie acknowledged as much with her comments after the fight, saying she needed surgery to fix the hand she injured three fights ago against Larissa Pacheco in 2015.

"I want to fight everybody," De Randamie told broadcaster Joe Rogan in the cage after the fight (h/t Marc Raimondi of MMA Fighting). "If Cris Cyborg is the one I have to fight, Ill fight her. Right now, I really need surgery on my hand. Ill get surgery on my hand, and well see after."

On Monday, De Randamie didn't seem as concerned about the hand when, in an Instagram post, she called for an immediate rematch with Holm.

That wasn't lost on Cyborg. Speaking Monday, Cyborg took it in stride. She's used to it.

"When they go inside thecage, they know," she said. "They know this fight, you're gonna fight Cyborg. ...It sounds funny for her to say 'yeah, I have an injury, I need surgery,' and then she says [she wants a] rematch with Holly Holm. You know, but I don't think [the rematch] is gonna happen."

In the meantime, Cyborg is awaiting a verdict from the United States Anti-Doping Agency regarding a recent positive drug test.

Per ESPN's Brett Okamoto, both Cyborg and UFC president Dana White have expressed optimism that she could receive a therapeutic use exemption for spironolactone,the banned substance in question, and thus would not receive a suspension or other disciplinary action. Cyborg has asserted she has a legitimate medical need for the drug and that it was prescribed to her by a physician.

Cyborg said Monday she hopes to receive a ruling from USADA "soon."

In the meantime, she'll continue to loom over De Randamie and the entire women's featherweight division.

"I wasn't able to get in the cage this weekend because of my health," she said Monday. "If I can't fight like Cyborg, I don't want [to fight]...It doesn't matter if I fight there or fight later. It's going to be my time. Everybody knows who the champ [is] at 145."

See the rest here:

Cris Cyborg: Germaine De Randamie 'Cannot Run Forever' - Bleacher Report

Technically Incorrect offers a slightly twisted take on the tech that's taken over our lives.

Are humans as we know them done for? Musk seems to think so.

Take a longer look at your kids tonight and marvel at what they'll become.

Because what they'll become will likely be a hybrid of flesh and metal.

I deduce this, taking only a few liberties, from the words of famed seer Elon Musk. As CNBC reported, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO spoke on Monday at the World Government Summit in Dubai.

In a wide-ranging chat that covered life, the universe and even the tunnels he's interested in building below major cities, he told the audience: "Over time I think we will probably see a closer merger of biological intelligence and digital intelligence."

That's a more academic way to say: "Hey mom, your kids will grow up to be half-robots."

Musk explained why, to him, this was inevitable: "It's mostly about the bandwidth, the speed of the connection between your brain and the digital version of yourself, particularly output."

No, your digital version of yourself won't be just your selfies and your Facebook updates. You'll start to become one with the technology that will increasingly take on the burden of organizing society.

Technology demands speed. Humans can't keep up. So we have to implant technology into humans. That way, the machines will be happy because the humans will be machines.

This isn't exactly a new idea. It's been peddled for some time by, for example, Google's director of engineering Ray Kurzweil. He believes that, once chips are implanted in human brains, we'll be "godlike."

Well, who's never fancied being a deity, at least for day?

Musk admitted that he's tortured by the sheer notion of life's meaning in the future. He said he finds it more exciting to think he might die on Mars, rather than boring old Earth. He added that the notion of a "symbiosis" between man and machine ought not to sound so strange.

"To some extent, we are already a cyborg," he said. We already use computers and phones and behave as if we're somewhat attached to them, even after death. "If somebody dies, their digital ghost is still around," he said.

Musk admitted, though, that the current developments in AI will mean immediate societal upheaval. Speaking of self-driving technology, for example, he said that driving currently employs many people, "so we need to figure out new roles for what do those people do, but it will be very disruptive and very quick."

What might those new roles be? There may be no new roles at all. Musk has already floated the idea of a universal basic income for those who are cast aside by technology's rapid progress. Will this cause many humans to be merely the paid idle? Musk didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Tesla CEO understands the dangers of an AI that is simply smarter and more powerful than humans. He's one of the financial contributors to OpenAI, a research company that's trying to ensure that we always stay in control of our fate.

But if we become these Toyota Priuses of human-robotic circuitry, what will be left of our (human) selves?

Won't we choose efficiency over feelings, productivity over joy and HAL over Prince Harry?

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Technically Incorrect: Bringing you a fresh and irreverent take on tech.

Originally posted here:

Elon Musk: We'll have to become cyborg hybrids to keep up - CNET

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Following the short Super Bowl teaser for the upcoming anime adaptation Ghost in the Shell, a full trailer has arrived. It provides more plot details than previous trailers, and gives us a first look at the villainous Kuze. Check it out below:

Ghost in the Shell stars Scarlett Johansson as the cyborg cop Major, who leads a futuristic anti-terrorist taskforce known as Section 9. It also features Game of Thrones' Pilou Asbk as the Major's partner Batou, plus Takeshi Kitano, Juliette Binoche, and Michael Pitt.

The movie has been the subject of some controversy due to the casting of Johansson as the lead character, leading to accusations that the filmmakers were "whitewashing" a role that was Japanese in the original manga and anime. In a recent interview, Johansson addressed this criticism.

"I certainly would never presume to play another race of a person," she said. "Diversity is important in Hollywood, and I would never want to feel like I was playing a character that was offensive.

"Also, having a franchise with a female protagonist driving it is such a rare opportunity. Certainly, I feel the enormous pressure of that--the weight of such a big property on my shoulders."

Ghost in the Shell was one of the key anime films to break through to a western audience in the '90s. It was based on Masamune Shirow's manga, and was followed by three more movies, plus a number of video games.

Ghost in the Shell hits theaters on March 31, 2017.

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New Ghost In The Shell Movie Trailer Reveals Cyborg Villain Kuze - GameSpot

BROOKLYN, N.Y.

Germaine de Randamie had an immense challenge in front of her at UFC 208:

Beat the woman who beat the icon.

Holly Holm will forever be known as the person who changed the course of MMA with her stunning upset of the previously undefeated Ronda Rousey. But de Randamie made her own history Saturday by becoming the first UFC womens featherweight champion at UFC 208 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The big storyline heading into the fight between two world class strikers : What happens if the both women neutralize other on the feet? What if the fight goes to the ground?

Holm tried her best to get fight to the mat, attempting nine takedowns and applying a tireless clinching game plan, but de Randamie stopped every advance by the former bantamweight champion.

The final stats showed that de Randamie edged Holm by just a few strikes, landing 144-122 and 80-77 in significant strikes.

Now a new division has its champion, but the unofficial No. 1 contender Cris Cyborg awaits.

These are the UFC 208 Talking Points

More from UFC 208: Full results | de Randamie makes history by defeating Holm | Silva, Jacare, Teixeira get main card wins | Fighters go distance for prelim wins Watch Octagon interviews: Germaine de Randamie, Anderson Silva, Ryan LaFlare Backstage interviews: Anderson Silva, Jacare Souza, Glover Teixeira Order the UFC 208 digital replay now!

Cris Cyborg awaits the champ

Cris Cyborg was supposed to be a part of the inaugural UFC womens featherweight championship fight. UFC president Dana White has said that he created the division with the Brazilian in mind.

Although she wasnt in the Octagon Saturday night, Cyborg loomed large from her seat in the first row. When the Invicta FC featherweight champion is cleared to return, her first order of business surely will be to get acquainted with the brand-new UFC champion.

The Legend adds another chapter to storied career

The decision may have been a strange one, but Anderson Silva showed that he can still compete at a high level at almost 42 years of age.

Silva won on all three judges scorecards despite being taken down and out-struck by Derek Brunson and now The Spider suddenly has momentum in a very crowded division.

Michael Bisping holds the championship belt, and Yoel Romero and Jacare Souza are seemingly the next challengers. But Silva looked like the Spider of old against Brunson with his improved takedown defense. Because Silva is a counter striker, he tends to wait for his opponents to engage and in this fight it almost cost him.

Silva isnt thinking about retirement just yet. People tell him all the time that he is an old man and ask him why he continues to compete with nothing left to prove.

One of the greatest of all time is just having too much fun.

This is my air, this is my heart. Fight is my life, Silva said. When I go inside the cage I just, I back to my 30 years old and just happy.

Jacare reaffirms position as top threat to champion

After a five-fight win streak to begin his UFC career, Ronaldo Jacare Souza believed he had done enough to earn a title shot. It was a title eliminator fight that came next and the Brazilian dropped a close split decision against Yoel Romero.

Despite having his momentum stunted by The Soldier of God, Jacare has shot right back to the top of the list of title contenders, thanks to first-round finishes against Vitor Belfort and Tim Boetsch, whom Souza submitted Saturday in under four minutes at UFC 208.

The problem for Jacare now is that Romero sits one position ahead of him in the line for a crack at Michael Bisping. So it will likely be a waiting game for Souza, who has established himself as perhaps the pound-for-pound best ground fighter in mixed martial arts.

Poirier returns to contender pool with win

The Dustin Poirier that was finished by knockout less than two minutes into his fight against Michael Johnson apparently was an aberration for The Diamond.

Since moving up to lightweight, Poirier has proved to be a dynamic and tough striker with a well-rounded game. He proved that once again with a magnificent performance against Jim Miller.

Poiriers instincts in the striking exchanges were flawless as he dipped and countered, battering the face of Miller over the course of 15 minutes. The options for Poirier are endless as he now looks to begin a new win streak and another climb up the ladder once again.

Matt Parrino is a digital producer and writer for UFC.com.Follow him on Twitter at @MattParrinoUFC

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Anderson Silva - UFC

Just seconds after Germaine de Randamie was crowned the first ever UFC womens featherweight champion, Cris Cyborg Justino was shown on camera with a smile on her face while sitting cage side just a few feet away from the action in the Octagon.

Cyborg has been the reigning queen at 145-pounds for the better part of a decade after decimating any and all opponents who stepped into the cage with her during stints with several different promotions including Strikeforce and Invicta FC.

Most recently, Cyborg finally made her UFC debut while competing at 140-pounds, but now the promotion has made a division specifically with her in mind. Unfortunately due to the rigorous weight cuts involved with getting down to 140-pounds, Cyborg was unable to accept a fight with de Randamie or Holly Holm at UFC 208.

Regardless of who is wearing the title right now, Cyborg sent a strong statement to de Randamie in a conversation with FOX Sports that with or without a UFC belt, shes still the best womens fighter on the planet.

ESPN and FOX Sports both have me ranked No. 1 pound-for-pound in womens mixed martial arts. I havent lost in 10 years, Cyborg said.

Until someone beats me I am No. 1 in the world no matter what belt is around my waist.

Theres little doubt that Cyborg has earned her position at the top of the featherweight division, but she still had to sit and watch two other fighters battle for the inaugural belt at 145-pounds in the UFC.

Because she was unable to take the fight on the proposed date, Cyborg says it wasnt difficult to sit and watch de Randamie and Holm battle for the title but clearly she knows that a championship belt doesnt necessarily make you the best fighter in the world.

I was not ready to fight Feb.11th. Germaine is a great fighter and a win over Holly only helps increase her star power, Cyborg said. It wasnt disappointing to be sitting cage side, I was excited because the UFC has made the division. I am ranked No. 1 in the world at 145-pounds and feel confident the fans know that too.

Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

The title fight at UFC 208 on Saturday night was a closely contested bout with de Randamie edging out Holm after five rounds. Afterwards, Holm stated that she thought she deserved the win, but Cyborg actually agrees with the judges decision the way it was rendered at the event with de Randamie being awarded the victory.

I had Germaine de Randamie winning. It was a close fight but the damage done by significant strikes by de Randamie made the difference in my opinion, Cyborg said. Holly needed to chain her wrestling transitions better to get that takedowns.

Once the fight was over, de Randamie was immediately asked about a fight with Cyborg, who is undoubtedly the top contender in the division whenever she returns to action. While de Randamie stated that shes headed for hand surgery to fix some existing ligament damage, she welcomed the chance to face Cyborg in the Octagon to defend her title.

Clearly, Cyborg welcomes that chance as well.

Its an exciting matchup, Cyborg said about the proposed fight with de Randamie. My team has been watching her for awhile and I feel confident they see opportunities to exploit her weaknesses in MMA.

On Saturday night after de Randamie said that she was headed for surgery, Cyborg even turned her attention to Invicta FC interim featherweight champion Megan Anderson, who is another top contender who is likely to receive looks from the UFC as they continue to bolster the new division.

Cyborg suggests that if de Randamie isnt ready to fight soon that she would gladly welcome Anderson to the UFC with a matchup at UFC 212 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June.

I am ready to enter fight camp now. If [de Randamie] is injured and cant fight I would like a chance to fight Megan Anderson, Cyborg said. She is an interim champion for the belt I own and calling out fighters in the UFC.

It only makes sense if [de Randamie] is not ready to fight that the UFC would offer her a contract and a chance to fight me on the biggest stage, inside the UFC octagon. I think it would be a great addition to the June event in Rio if shes ready to fight.

Right now, Cyborg is still provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance from an out-of-competition sample collected by USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) but she is currently in the process of applying for a retroactive therapeutic use exemption for the drug that was administered by her physician.

White recently spoke about the issue and sounded positive that Cyborg would hopefully be cleared to return to action sooner rather than later. Obviously with the legalities surrounding the proceedings, Cyborg couldnt speak about the ongoing situation but sounded hopeful that she would be able to resume her career in the near future.

I needed to give my body time to recover from my past two weight cuts. Ive given my body a proper off season allowing it to recover and am ready to start training camp soon, Cyborg revealed.

My USADA situation is still ongoing and at this time I have no comment, but am hopeful my lawyer and doctors will resolve this and are cooperating fully with USADA.

Finally, Cyborg was asked for a statement to send to de Randamie, who will more than likely be her targeted opponent when shes cleared to return to the UFC.

Lets go champ, Cyborg said in closing.

Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

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Cris Cyborg sends a strong message to new UFC champ Germaine de Randamie - FOXSports.com

Elon Musk speaks at the Tesla Design Studio on April 30, 2015, in Hawthorne, California.

How can humans stay relevant in an age of artificial intelligence? Elon Musk thinks cyborgs are the answer.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO discussed the need for a "merger of biological intelligence and digital intelligence" during a talk today (Feb. 13) at the World Government Summit in Dubai, CNBC reported.

One of the main advantages computers have over humans is the speed at which they can send out information, Musk said. While humans are limited by the the speed of theirtyping, a computer can send out information at "a trillion bits per second," Musk said. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more advanced, humans will also need to evolve to remain relevant, he added. [Super-Intelligent Machines: 7 Robotic Futures]

"Some high-bandwidth interface to the brain will be something that helps achieve a symbiosis between human and machine intelligence, and maybe solves the control problem and the usefulness problem," Musk said of the need for humans to merge their minds with computers, according to CNBC.

Musk has previously discussed a system that could link human brains to a computer interface. This so-called "neural lace" concept, which would add a digital layer of intelligence to the human brain, was first mentioned at Recode's Code Conference last year. Since introducing the idea, Musk has hinted at the interface's progress and has further discussed his views on an artificially intelligent future.

Musk has also expressed his fear of "deep AI," explaining that an artificial general intelligence would be "smarter than the smartest human on Earth." Though this technology is not an immediate threat, Musk said the combination of human brains with machine intelligencewill ensure humanity's continued relevance.

However, one aspect of AI that is an immediate threat is the displacement of jobs, Musk said. During the World Government Summit talk, Musk specifically noted that with autonomous cars, an industry in which Tesla is a leader, AI will displace people in driving-focused positions such as truck drivers, delivery drivers and taxi drivers.

"The most near-term impact from a technology standpoint is autonomous cars," Musk said at the Summit, according to CNBC. "But there are many people whose jobs are to drive. In fact, I think it might be the single largest employer of people ... driving in various forms."

Musk estimated that 12 to 15 percent of the global workforce will be out of a job once autonomous vehicles AI take over driving duties, CNBC reported.

Original article on Live Science.

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Cyborg Future? Elon Musk's Plan to Compete with AI - Live Science

With a little over a month to go before the live-action Ghost in the Shell movie hits theaters, a new trailer is here, and it reveals a lot.

After the mostly visual first trailer, here we get a good sense of the story, the fact this version will dive deeper into The Majors past and get to meet Kuze, the villain of the film. Check it out.

Of course, the film is based on the iconic Japanese franchise created by Mamoru Oshii. In this futuristic world, the human essence, also known as a ghost, can be transferred to different cyborg bodies, called shells. Scarlett Johansson is the Major, a highly-trained cyborg who has to get to the bottom of a conspiracy plot.

Directed by Rupert Sanders, Ghost in the Shell stars Scarlett Johansson, Michael Pitt, Takeshi Kitano, and Juliette Binoche. It opens March 31.

[YouTube]

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The Cyborg Villain Kuze Is Revealed in the New Ghost In The Shell Trailer - Gizmodo

Playing Scarlett Johansson Goes Full-On Cyborg in Badass New 'Ghost in the Shell' Trailer -- Watch Now!

We didn't actually have to travel to Tokyo for the latest Ghost in the Shell trailer, but we sure as hell were transported nonetheless.

A new preview for Scarlett Johansson's live-action take on the cult classic manga dropped at midnight and, though we've seen Johansson kick a** as superhero assassin Black Widow and merciless antihero Lucy and whatever she was in Under the Skin, GITS features a new side to the star -- the cyborg side.

EXCLUSIVE: Scarlett Johansson Likes What Her 'Ghost in the Shell' Role Can Teach Her Daughter About Risk Taking

In Ghost in the Shell, Johansson plays The Major, a special ops hybrid who hunts down the most dangerous criminal as part of an elite task force called Section 9. This is but the latest look at the flick. A sneak peek dropped during the Super Bowl that ripped open Johansson's face to show her robotic inner workings:

When ET traveled to Japan for the first trailer's premiere, director Rupert Sanders revealed why -- despite any controversy -- Johansson was his only choice to play The Major, explaining, "She's the best actress of her generation, and I was flattered and honored that she would be in this film."

"There are very few actresses who've had 20 years of experience, who have the cyberpunk aesthetic already baked in," he added. "She comes from such edgy films, from Lost in Translation to Under the Skin. She's got an incredible body of work and her attitude and toughness is, to me, The Major."

Ghost in the Shell hits theaters on March 31, 2017.

Excerpt from:

Scarlett Johansson Goes Full-On Cyborg in Badass New 'Ghost in the Shell' Trailer -- Watch Now! - Entertainment Tonight

The MMA Hour is back in your life. Below is a rundown of Monday's show:

1 p.m. ET -- We'll recap the weekend that was in MMA.

1:25 p.m. -- Rory MacDonald will stop by to preview his Bellator debut against Paul Daley.

1:45 p.m. -- We'll also be joined by Daley to discuss his Bellator 179 fight against MacDonald.

2:05 p.m. -- Cris Cyborg will talk about the UFC women's featherweight title fight and her future.

2:25 p.m. -- Luke Rockhold will update us on what's next for him.

2:45 p.m. -- Fedor Emelianenko will preview his fight against Matt Mitrione on Saturday night.

3:10 p.m. -- UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping will discuss his recent knee surgery and what's next for him.

3:30 p.m. -- Jon Anik will look back at UFC 208 and discuss becoming the lead play-by-play man for the UFC.

3:50 p.m. -- Derek Brunson will talk about his controversial loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 208.

4:10 p.m. -- We'll look ahead to the weekend and discuss other MMA news.

Plus, we'll be taking your calls on anything and everything. Got a question or comment? Give us a call at1-888-418-4074.

Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. GMT.

Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes (audio feedhere; video feedhere), Soundcloud or Google Play. Listen to the show via Stitcherhere or via TuneInhere.

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The MMA Hour with Fedor Emelianenko, Cris Cyborg, Michael Bisping, Rory MacDonald, Paul Daley, Derek Brunson ... - MMA Fighting

What is the greatest achievement of evolution? Here are some popular choices:the development of the genetic code inprimitive microorganisms; the ability to thrive on oxygen (which previously had been toxic to most of Earths life forms); the emergence of eukaryotic cells; multicellular organisms; or, very recently, the development of the human brain, which more than tripped in size over the last 5 million years. But several future-minded thinkers believe that the biggest advances are yet to come.

For billions of years, all of the beneficial innovations of life on Earth came from changes in the genes, imparted to future generations by the sieve of natural selection and other evolutionary forces. In our ancestors, intelligence was a survival advantage, so the brain got bigger and soon we were using it to invent technologies, which improved life by altering the environment outside of the body.

Now, with our knowledge of biology at the cellular and molecular level growing byleaps and bounds, and with our computer and electronics technology exponentiating, great thinkers are considering the emergence of high scale artificial intelligence (AI) and what it could mean for humanity. Intelligent, sentient robots could be coming and people like Bill Gates and Elon Musk want to make sure that AI develops in a way thats not harmful to humans. We want machinesto replace us in certain functionsparticularly dangerous tasks like pulling people out of firesbut with safeguards built in so that even when AI exceeds that of humans it wont replace our species, or seek to enslave us.

As AI advances, machine technology is expected to merge with humans, as it has already begun to do. Today, its routine for people to have implanted drug infusion pumps, cardiac pacemakers, and other devices, and the day is coming when artificial organsmachine hearts, livers, and kidneyswill not only be available, but preferable to a donor organ. Along with that will come true, fully-functinal and cosmetically appealing bionic limbs, eyes, and ears, and brain implants and interfaces could be possible to give people a boost in memory capacity and even information. Imagine having the Internet connected directly to your brain.

The options for human enhancement seem endless and Hebrew Universitys ProfessorYuval Noah Harari believesthat many humans will eventually take on new forms.

I think it is likely in the next 200 years or so Homo sapiens will upgrade themselves into some idea of a divine being, either through biological manipulation or genetic engineering of by the creation of cyborgs, part organic part non-organic.It will be the greatest evolution in biology since the appearance of life. Nothing really has changed in four billion years biologically speaking. But we will be as different from todays humans as chimps are now from us.

Regarding nothing has really changed in four billion years biologically speaking, on this point Harari is completely wrong. In the last four billion years, life emerged on Earth, learned how to thrive in oxygen instead of dying from it, and through biological evolution the cosmos learned to taste, smell, see, hear, and speak. In our corner of space, the cosmos started thinking about itself in the form of sentient human beings. Since human divergence with apes a few million years ago, brain size has more than tripled and independently of size the brain has become far more complex. Only a million years ago, though boasting brains 2/3 the size of ours, our ancestors still could not speak, because the spinal canal was too narrow for the needed control of breathing and other muscles. The changes enabling speech, writing, and a plethora of other physical and mental skills were anatomical. They developed as a result of Darwinian evolution, and so, biologically speaking, in four billion years, everything has changed.

But Harari is right that were moving into an age of human enhancement, and hes fairly hopeful that there will be positive consequences. In particular, he expects the cyborgazation of humans to end religion. That may be a tall order at Hebrew University, located in Jerusalem, where people still come from all over the planet to pray to a stone wall, but Harari is thinking in terms of centuries. In Western Europe, North America, and other developed countries, people are dropping organized religion.The new religion,Harariobserves, is technology and a blind belief in the infinite power of innovation.

As long as humans believed they relied more and more on these gods they were controllable.But what we see in the last few centuries is humans becoming more powerful and they no longer need the crutches of the gods. Now we are saying we do not need God, just technology.The most interesting place in the world from a religious perspective is not the Middle East, its Silicon Valley where they are developing a techno-religion. They believe even death is just a technological problem to be solved.

The challenge is that the technology will cost money. Harari warns that the futurethe bionic body parts and all the enhancements to prolong human lifecould end up as a privilege of only the wealthiest segment of society.

David Warmflash is an astrobiologist, physician and science writer. Follow @CosmicEvolution to read what he is saying on Twitter.

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Enhancing humans: Becoming a cyborg could end up as a privilege of the wealthy - Genetic Literacy Project