Cristiane \"Cyborg\" Justino took care of business against Tonya Evinger to win the women's featherweight title at UFC 214. USA TODAY Sports <\/p>\n
Cris \"Cyborg\" pins Tonya Evinger to the cage during UFC 214 at Honda Center.(Photo: Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports) <\/p>\n
ANAHEIM, Calif. Cristiane \"Cyborg\" Justino was a spectator when the UFCs womens division debuted here in February 2013. <\/p>\n
Flanked by her advisor and former UFC champ Tito Ortiz, Justino told reporters why she couldnt fight Ronda Rousey: she was physically unable to make the cut down to bantamweight (135 pounds). More than four years later and fighting at the 145-pound featherweight division, Justino got her UFC title fight and title at Honda Center as she defeated Tonya Evinger via a TKO (punches) on Saturday. <\/p>\n
I am very happy and proud to own this belt and it will be really hard to take it away from me,\" Cyborg said after the fight. \"For the Cyborg Nation fans who were expecting the third belt, here it is.\" <\/p>\n
Cyborg hasnt lost since her pro MMA debut in May 2005 and previosoly held belts in Strikeforce and Invicta FC. Shesecured the UFC featherweight belt that was stripped from Germaine de Randamie in May. De Randamie called Justino a known and proven cheater and refused to take the fight. <\/p>\n
The bout was the UFC debut for Evinger(19-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC). <\/p>\n
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Justino (18-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) took control of the bout early, the only thing stopping the barrage of fists and kicks thrown by Justino was an eye poke by Evinger. The referee stopped the fight to check Justinos eye. The fight resumed after the pause and Justino finished the round with a knee to Evingers head. <\/p>\n
Justino continued to pick away at Evinger in the second round. <\/p>\n
Evinger was unable to avoid the massive strikes and crumpled to the mat for a second time in the third round. Justino pounced and after she delivered a few blows, a stoppage was called at 1:56 in the third round. <\/p>\n
\"I was very calm this time, calculating the right time to throw the right punches and kicks. I respect Tonya a lot,\" Justino said. \"She is a hard fighter and I hope she has a chance in her division. I dont know what comes next, but I would love to face Holly Holm. I think she was a great champion and fans would like to see us fight. <\/p>\n
Justinos MMA credentials only lacked one thing until Saturday: a UFC title. While her inability to make weight at 135 before the 145-pound division was created last year held her back, drug issues have also dogged her career. <\/p>\n
Justino tested positive for the steroid stanozolol, a violation that was flagged after her fight against Hiroko Yamanaka in December 2011. The violation cost Justino the win which changed to a no-contest along with her Strikeforce belt and resulted in a one-year suspension. <\/p>\n
In January, Justino failed an out-of-competition drug test. She was not punished after she submitted information to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which administers the UFCs drug-testing program, that the positive test was the result of a legitimate medical treatment. <\/p>\n
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'Cyborg' Justino stops Tonya Evinger with TKO for ...<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Cristiane \"Cyborg\" Justino took care of business against Tonya Evinger to win the women's featherweight title at UFC 214. Continue reading