The Brazilian recently won the UFC Featherweight title against Tonya Evinger at UFC 214 in Anaheim, California. It's time to analyse Cyborg's potential challengers.

MMA fans worldwide rejoiced earlier this year when we learned that Cristiane Cyborg Justino, the former Invicta FC and Strikeforce womens featherweight champion, would be competing in her first opportunity for a UFC title. Her entry to the UFC was long-awaited by many, and her devastating finish of Leslie Smith at UFC 198 emphatically declared her arrival. However, a suspension from USADA halted her progress after yet another dominant victory, this time againstLina Lansberg. Luckily for the fans (but not for the rest of the womens featherweight division), Cris was granted a retroactive Therapeutic Use Exemption, clearing the path for her to face the inaugural womens featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie in the summer of 2017.

The de Randamie vs Cyborg fight collapsed controversially, as the Dutch championrefused to face Cyborg, and was later stripped of her championship. The outlook for the featherweight division was bleak. The UFC was not committing to the weight class, and the lack of contenders meant that Cris Cyborg was struggling to find an opponent. That was before current Invicta FC champion Megan Anderson stepped up to the plate and called out the Brazilian MMA legend; a move that created a huge buzz in the combat sports community. The UFC signed the Australian, who holds a record of 8-2, and the fight was scheduled for UFC 214 on July 29th.

Again, Cyborg was left without a dance partner as Anderson pulled out of the fightdue to personal issues. Despite this, Cris was still to fight at UFC 214. Tonya Evinger, the Invicta FC bantamweight champion, took the fight on a months notice and earned herself the respect of fans worldwide. However, her debut in the UFC was not to be a joyful occasion. Despite her incredible toughness and resilience, Evinger was defeated by Cyborg in the third round. The Brazilians performance once again proved why she is arguably the greatest female fighter of all time. Her dominance over a game challenger showed exactly why the UFC chose to open a featherweight division in the first place, but it also left us with one big question; whos next?

The current roster at 145 pounds is hardly packed with talent. There is a very limited number of contenders in the division, but this does not mean that there are no intriguing matchups for the new champion. Although there are plenty of women who would love the opportunity to face the Brazilian star, three women come to mind when choosing the new opponent of Cris Cyborg.

The first of these is Holly Holm, the former UFC bantamweight champion, who competed in the first ever title fight in the womens featherweight division in her promotions history. The Jackson Wink fighter lost said title fight in extremely controversial circumstances; many felt she deserved the decision win, and she was subject to multiple illegal strikes after the bell at the hands of Germaine de Randamie. The 16-time boxing world champion bounced back from the loss with a devastating knockout victory over Bethe Correia, solidifying her place amongst the elite in womens MMA. The matchup with Cyborg is fascinating to me; Holms counter-striking and tremendous strength is the perfect formula to beat the seemingly unstoppable Brazilian. Her striking prowess is unquestionable, and her grappling skills have improved massively. She is no stranger to the 145-pound weight class and could become a mainstay in the division in the future. This fight would bring the most attention to the womens featherweight division, and that is why it will undoubtedly happen down the line.

Holly Holm isnt the only option, however. Megan Anderson was brought into the UFC for the sole purpose of bolstering the division, and her inheritance of Cyborgs Invicta championship provides us with somewhat of a backstory. The Australian is no stranger to finishes herself; of her eight victories in mixed martial arts, four have come via knockout, and two of her wins are by submission. She stands six feet tall, and her physicality is a huge problem to anyone she faces. In my opinion, Anderson should be the first woman to challenge Cyborg for her newly-earned title. This is a fight that the fans clearly want, and the UFC is also enthusiastic about the potential matchup.

Last but not least, Cat Zingano is certainly a relevant name in this division. Zingano has repeatedly called out Cris Cyborg and seems more than willing to step up a weight division to test herself. Despite being a former flyweight, the former title challenger has proved her fantastic athleticism and strength on multiple occasions. She holds a knockout victory over current bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, and the woman she took the title from, Miesha Tate. The Californian grappling skill is some of the very best in womens MMA today. Her Muay Thai is excellent, and her mentality is bulletproof. Although Zingano is likely not the next in line for a featherweight title shot, a fight between her and Cris Cyborg is one that I would love to see soon.

There are plenty of women willing to step into the octagon with Cyborg. The new champion is already clamouring for a spot on the UFC 219 card in December, and I for one cannot wait to find out who her next opponent will be.

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Cris Cyborg: Who's next for the new UFC women's featherweight champion? - RealSport101