UFC Star Says She Can Be The One To Beat Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino

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UFC women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate believes she has what it takes to defeat Brazilian MMA fighter Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino.

Tate made the claim during a meeting with the media on Monday, reports MMA Fighting.

Not only is ‘Cupcake’ confident of the win, she’s also willing to move up to a catchweight in order to do it – something former champ Ronda Rousey has so far refused to even contemplate.

Tate said:

I think it would be really cool to fight Cyborg, honestly. Like to really see what it’s like to be in there with someone with her power.

I’ll be the first to admit, physically I think I would be at a disadvantage, but I think that I can be the one to prove that I have the heart, the durability, the determination and the will power – and technique – to overcome that kind of challenge. And that intrigues me. That would be very rewarding to me.

Tate did add that while she was open to moving up to 140, she isn’t sure if being the 135lb champion would force Cyborg to cut down instead.

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She added:

I don’t know if I can not fight for the belt while I’m the champion. I don’t know how that works. I’m not Conor McGregor. He has like his own set of rules. I’m not really sure. I wouldn’t be opposed to it. But I think it would be better if we did make it a title fight. At some point if that comes down and it’s allowed, like of course.

I think she can make 135 pounds, but yeah, she’s a very big girl. She’s naturally big and I’m sure that it would be really a difficult cut for her. She’d have to lose money. She wouldn’t just be able to lose the water weight. She’d have to come down.

In her dominant UFC debut at 198, Cyborg cut to 139lbs to fight Leslie Smith, but her team has continued to stress that dropping to 135lbs would not be healthy.

The Brazilian has not been defeated since 2005, finishing her last ten opponents in the process.

Cyborg has previously said she will not vacate her Invicta title, but maybe a shot at UFC gold could tempt her…

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