Guilherme Cruz, MMA Fighting

Before Ronda Rousey enters the Octagon on Saturday night, her rival Cris Cyborg had some strong words for the UFC women's bantamweight champion. In a prepared statement to 'Inside MMA' on Friday, Cyborg vowed to defeat her by the end of the year.

Here is the full statement below:

"In reference to Rondas statement that I am looking for a payday so that I can retire, youre right, I am looking for a payday to retire you like I did Gina Carano.But to show its not only about money, I challenge you to a fight winner takes all.Or better yet lets fight for FREE. ANYTIME! ANYWHERE!Ask your daddy Dana to make it happen.

My English is not that great, so sorry if I was misunderstood. I didnt literally mean I would die if I made 135. What I meant was that my doctor recommended that I did not fight the rest of my career at 135, which is what the UFC wanted.

You have fought 154 in the Olympics and 145 in MMA. You can meet me at 140 easier than for me to go down to 135. The only reason you want the fight at 135 is because you feel that is your only chance because you hope the weight cut will affect me. You guys say Im irrelevant, yet watch my highlights. The true MMA fans not only know me, but know Im the best.Sad that you give the true MMA fans no recognition by saying that they dont matter.

Im currently training to fight at 145 onMarch 28and in early May. My team has hired a medical doctor to help me make 135.I plan to challenge and win the Invicta 135 Championship in the summer and challenge you, champion to champion, for your 135 belt in December.

Now I know critics will say "I thought you said you would die if you made 135."All Im promising is that I will give 100 percent to try to get to 135 to make this plan happen. If I do, I will still listen to my doctors advice and fight no more than three times at 135: first to win the Invicta belt, the second time to kick your ass and the third time to kick your ass again so that the world can see it wasnt luck. You can evenhave me tested every week up to the fight. That way you will not have an excuse after I kick your ass."

See the original post here:

Cris Cyborg plans to drop to 135 pounds, 'retire' Ronda Rousey by end of year