Cris ‘Cyborg’ Announces Move to Bantamweight, Plans to Challenge Ronda Rousey

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Cristiane Justino still has Ronda Rousey on her mind.

“Cyborg” released a statement to AXS TV’s “Inside MMA” on Friday night, revealing her intention to drop to 135 pounds and challenge the UFC queen to close out 2014.

“I’m currently training to fight at 145 [pounds] on March 28 and in early May,” Justino’s statement read. “My team has hired a medical doctor to help me make 135. I plan to challenge and win the Invicta [bantamweight] championship in the summer and challenge you, champion to champion, for your [bantamweight] belt in December.

“Now I know critics will say, ‘I thought you said you would die if you made 135.’ All I’m promising is that I will give 100 percent to try to get to 135 to make this plan happen. If I do, I will still listen to my doctor’s advice and fight no more than three times at 135: first to win the Invicta belt, the second time to kick your ass and the third time to kick your ass again so that the world can see it wasn’t luck. You can even have me tested every week [leading] up to the fight. That way you will not have an excuse after I kick your ass.”

The reigning Invicta 145-pound champion, Justino is currently slated to compete for the Lion Fight Promotions under muay Thai rules next month. Cyborg began her career 10-1, winning the Strikeforce featherweight title in 2009 and defending the belt twice before seeing a 16-second knockout of Hiroko Yamanaka changed to a no-contest due to a positive steroid test. Justino served a one-year suspension and returned to action as a member of the Invicta roster last year, demolishing Fiona Muxlow before winning the Invicta featherweight title in a rematch with Marloes Coenen.

Rousey is slated to defend her UFC bantamweight title tonight against Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170. “Rowdy” has never been beaten as a mixed martial artist, submitting all eight of her victims via armbar.