“Cyborg’s” coach: Cyborg’s weight cuts show what kind of champion she is

Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos’ weight cuts to 140 pounds have been well-documented, with the Brazilian striker resorting to using birth control pills in her last weight cut to successfully make weight.

“Cyborg’s” coach sees her willingness and ability to make that weight, in spite of how grueling it may be, demonstrates the heart of the former Strikeforce and current Invicta woman’s featherweight champion.

Her coach, Jason Perillo, revealed his thoughts on “Cyborg’s” potential for UFC gold and why her intense weight cuts illustrate her will to be champ:

“I’ve talked about that for years with her and with the team, and it’s always been the biggest concern of mine,” Jason Parillo said Monday on The MMA Hour. “You saw that grueling weight cut on that documentary that Cris had done and that was coming down to 140 (pounds). But believe it or not, those are the grueling weight cuts that she has are at 145. I’ve yet to see a really easy one at 145 (pounds). She’s just willing to make that mental sacrifice over the last couple fights and shed off those last five pounds, which shows what kind of champion she is.”

“Cyborg’s” most recent weight cut to 140 pounds, which is actually a catchweight and not an weight division, was against Lina Lansberg last month.

The Brazilian striker began her weight cut at a whopping 160 pounds, meaning she needed to drop 20 pounds in order to make weight.

So far, “Cyborg” has won both of her UFC catchweight bouts by devastating TKOs, but the problem is there is no championship belt to win at 140 pounds.

The UFC only has two weight divisions for women, a 115 pound strawweight division and 135 pound bantamweight division. And unfortunately for “Cyborg”, UFC president Dana White doesn’t appear to have any interest in creating a woman’s featherweight division any time soon, forcing her to continue to fight at 140 pound catchweight bouts with no real path toward a championship.

Do you agree with “Cyborg’s” coaches assessment of her will to be champion? Should the UFC consider creating a woman’s featherweight division? Who would you like to see her take on next? Sound off, PENN Nation!