February 23, 2013 was a historic night for the UFC at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. <\/p>\n
It was UFC 157, and in the main event, Ronda Rousey submitted Liz Carmouche with her signature armbar to defend the bantamweight title in the very first UFC womens fight that set off a revolution in MMA. <\/p>\n
At that time, Cristiane Justino already was known as a one of the most dangerous fighters in the world male or female. But she wouldnt get her moment in the UFC spotlight until May of 2016. Fast forward to Saturday night at UFC 214, and in the same building where Rousey made history, Cyborg finally became a UFC champion with a TKO of Tonya Evinger to win the womens featherweight title. <\/p>\n
It was just the second UFC womens 145-pound bout to take place, though with inaugural champion Germaine de Randamie opting to have her belt stripped instead of defending it against Justino, it felt like a new beginning for the division. <\/p>\n
And for Tito Ortiz, friend and training partner of Justino, it felt like history was made similar to Rouseys four-and-a-half years ago. <\/p>\n
You know, I really do, Ortiz told Submission Radio. Its just that I think Cris is more of a true person. You know, she really doesnt let her head get to her. Shes very calm, collective and very mellow-mannered person. Shes an awesome woman. She doesnt get cocky, she doesnt treat people bad. Cris is a true champion. Shes a true peoples champion. She goes out of her way to help people, and thats what champions are made of, and thats what Cris is made of. <\/p>\n
Justino (18-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and Rousey (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC)beefed in the past during Rouseys reign as UFC womens bantamweight champion, though Cyborg made it clear during fight week she isnt holding any grudges. Even though Justino said she has no desire to fill Rouseys shoes as the new face of womens MMA, Ortiz believes its inevitable. <\/p>\n
Because its also long overdue. <\/p>\n
Yeah, thats whats going to happen to Cris Cyborg 100 percent. She is going to be the face of womens MMA. She should have been a long time ago, shes gonna be now, Ortiz said. You know, Ronda was a flash in the pan. And nothing against her, she was a great champ at the time, but when youre getting hand-fed opponents, it is what it is. But Cris is not a person to submit people and give them an opportunity to do it again, shes a person to knock people out as you heard tonight at the press conference, people comparing her to a Mike Tyson. <\/p>\n
But now shes a confident person, is keeping her hips low and, yeah, she swings like Mike Tyson. All of her sparring partners, man, theyre all men. We dont have any women sparring partner with her, and when they do its just a confidence booster for her, and Ive got to thank all of them for coming in and working with her. Cris is finally the UFC world champ. <\/p>\n
She certainly waited long enough to be called that. What she does with that title is up to her. <\/p>\n
For more onUFC 214, check out theUFC Eventssection of the site. <\/p>\n
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Tito Ortiz: 'Cyborg' should've been face of women's MMA long before ... - MMAjunkie.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" February 23, 2013 was a historic night for the UFC at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. It was UFC 157, and in the main event, Ronda Rousey submitted Liz Carmouche with her signature armbar to defend the bantamweight title in the very first UFC womens fight that set off a revolution in MMA. At that time, Cristiane Justino already was known as a one of the most dangerous fighters in the world male or female Continue reading