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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
De Randamie landed blows after the bell in two rounds, and since her win the division ostensibly created for Cyborg has stalled. <\/p>\n
Holm has gone back to bantamweight, taking out former title challenger Bethe Correia with a head kick last Sunday. <\/p>\n
De Randamie angered the UFC by refusing to fight Cyborg, the clear not to mention only challenger, due to the positive steroid test. <\/p>\n
The UFC, clearly fed up with De Randamie, stripped her of her championship belt and signed Anderson to fight Cyborg for the title. <\/p>\n
Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
\"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. <\/p>\n
\"A few weeks ago, we were told 'no, this fight wasn't happening'. <\/p>\n
\"We were like okay, that's fine, at least they've told us. So we went and got a fight with Invicta. <\/p>\n
\"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. <\/p>\n
\"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.\" <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
While she was granted a retroactive therapeutic use exemption for her December infraction, it was enough for De Randamie to refuse to fight her. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
\"I don't give a shit, I don't care if she's on it or not, I'll fight her regardless. <\/p>\n
\"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. <\/p>\n
\"...She's never come up against anyone who has my finishing power and that's going to be the difference.\" <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
\"It's a boy's club,\" she said of UFC journalism down under. <\/p>\n
\"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.\" <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
\"There's a new generation of fighters coming through, like myself and Rob, and we're changing the game. We're different breeds.\" <\/p>\n
\"Just because someone has been doing this longer, it doesn't mean they're automatically going to win. That doesn't mean shit anymore.\" <\/p>\n
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UFC 214: Megan Anderson to fight Cris Cyborg in Anaheim - The Sydney Morning Herald<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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 Continue reading