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'Cyborg' says showdown with Ronda Rousey needs to happen

Cristiane Justino made her UFC debut earlier this year. (Getty)
Cristiane Justino made her UFC debut in May. (Getty)

The dream showdown between Ronda Rousey and Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino seemingly went up in smoke after Holly Holm knocked Rousey out last November. The mere concept of these two dominant forces in women’s MMA meeting was built upon the premise of both being invincible. But with Rousey suffering her first loss and the entire women’s bantamweight division being turned upside down over the past year, the focus has shifted away from bringing the fantasy bout to fruition.

However, Cyborg still has her sights set on a potential Rousey fight.

Speaking to MMA Junkie, the Invicta FC featherweight said she still envisions a fight with Rousey.

“I respect all the girls regardless of who they are,” Justino said. “But I believe there’s a ‘novela’ [Brazilian soap opera] between Ronda and I that we need to finish. I think that’s a fight everyone wants to watch.”

Cyborg is currently scheduled for her second UFC fight against newcomer Lina Lansberg in the main event of UFC Fight Night 95 on Sept. 24 in Brasilia, Brazil. The bout will be fought at a catchweight of 140 pounds. The primary sticking point for a potential Rousey-Cyborg showdown has been the weight and that appears to remain an issue. However, with Rousey no longer the 135-pound champion, a catchweight fight could be possible.

Rousey’s future remains unclear although UFC president Dana White has said that the former champion would return at the end of 2016 or early 2017. Some question whether Rousey will ever come back but Cyborg believes that Rousey should return. Not just to fight her, but because she holds a great deal respect for her and what she’s brought to women’s MMA.

“I hope she [comes back],” Justino said. “She has a lot of fans. She helped MMA grow a lot. I can’t be selfish and say she didn’t. I think she did a lot for the growth of MMA. I think many girls out there are her fans, and she can show that losing is not giving up. Losing is about coming back and persisting and fighting for your spot again.”

Justino is hoping that Rousey is learning how to deal with a loss and come back stronger. Although she’s not sure whether or not Rousey has resumed training, she would welcome a bout with the former champ with open arms. But it’s up to Rousey to decide if she wants it.

“I think they ask the same [questions] to her,” Cyborg said. “I think everywhere, they ask the same thing. That’s why I think this fight needs to happen. So that we can finish our careers saying we did that great fight and not that we should have done that fight. We did it. So let’s wait. If she takes that initiative. It’s up to her.”