Brandon Folsom, Special to Detroit Free Press Published 6:14 p.m. ET Aug. 3, 2017 | Updated 6:16 p.m. ET Aug. 3, 2017<\/p>\n
Cris (Cyborg) Justino spoke to reporters at MGM Grand Detroit on Thursday, August 3, 2017, ahead of the Claressa Shields-Nikki Adler weigh-in. Video by Brandon Folsom\/Special to DFP <\/p>\n
Cris (Cyborg) Justino takes questions before the Claressa Shields-Nikki Adler weigh-in at MGM Grand Detroit on Thursday, August 3, 2017.(Photo: Brandon Folsom Special to DFP) <\/p>\n
Cris (Cyborg) Justino wants her next fight to be in Detroit. <\/p>\n
Justino (18-1) beat Tonya Evinger for the featherweight championship at UFC 214 on Saturday in Anaheim, Calif. Now the 32-year-old is looking for her next fight, and she's eyeing Holly Holm (11-3), who's most famous for beating then-undefeated champion Ronda Rousey in 2015. <\/p>\n
\"I would like it,\" said Justino before a weigh-in for Claressa Shields and Nikki Adler today at MGM Grand Detroit. \"I asked to fight Holly Holm, and I think it would be perfect. <\/p>\n
\"I'm asking for it. Let's see what's going to happen. Maybe it could be in Detroit. That would be nice.\" <\/p>\n
Little Caesars Arena will host UFC 218 in December. <\/p>\n
This was Justino's first visit to Detroit, but she's no stranger to Michigan fighting fans. <\/p>\n
(Photo: Matt Roberts USA TODAY Sports) <\/p>\n
Shields trained with Justino in July to help prepare for UFC 214. Shields taught her hand-combat training and how to get the most out of sparring when two fighters are on their feet at the same time. Justino said Shields' fans cheered for her alongside her own fan base, \"Cyborg Nation,\" in Anaheim. <\/p>\n
The two have developed a strong relationship, which is why Justino is spending the weekend in the Motor City. She wants to root on Shields, who fights Adler for the WBC and IBF super middleweight titles Friday in Detroit (10:30 p.m., Showtime).Justino will escort Shields to the ring. <\/p>\n
More: Claressa Shields focuses on weight as her opponent Nikki Adler arrives <\/p>\n
\"I followed her before when she went to Brazil for the Olympics in 2016, and people loved her in Brazil,\" Justino said. \"I started to watch her more and read more about her. I think we have a lot in common. She fights with her heart, and I think she had a hard time when she was a teenager, too.\" <\/p>\n
Cris (Cyborg) Justino takes questions before the Claressa Shields-Nikki Adler weigh-in at MGM Grand Detroit on Thursday, August 3, 2017.(Photo: Brandon Folsom Special to DFP) <\/p>\n
Whenever Justino signs the deal for her next fight, she said she's going to visit Shields in Flint for more hand-combat training. <\/p>\n
\"I don'treally train with girls. I train more with guys,\" Justino said. \"She was the first girl I've trained with, and I think she was a challenge for me. I think we can better each other. <\/p>\n
\"I think it'll improve a lot of my game. It'll be a lot of good experience for me.\" <\/p>\n
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Cris Cyborg wants to fight Holly Holm at UFC 218 at Little Caesars Arena - Detroit Free Press<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Brandon Folsom, Special to Detroit Free Press Published 6:14 p.m. Continue reading