VIDEO | Cris ‘Cyborg’: Ronda Rousey is a Bad Role Model

When it comes to super fights in women’s mixed martial arts, there’s nothing bigger than a potential showdown between current Invicta featherweight champ Cris “Cyborg” Justino and former UFC bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey. This has been true for years, and remains true today. Recently, however, this super fight has been looking like less and less of a possibility.

Rousey, after all, has not been seen since she lost the UFC bantamweight crown to Holly Holm almost a year ago. This longstanding absence has led to widespread speculation that she may never fight again – which would of course rule out any possibility of a super fight with Cyborg.

Earlier this week. however, Rousey fans were given some cause for optimism. First MMA insider @TalkMMA claimed that Rousey was poised for a comeback opposite reigning bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 this December. Shortly thereafter, UFC President Dana White suggested that a Rousey comeback was imminent in an interview with Brazilian outlet Globo. And that was all it took to reignite talk of a possible Cyborg vs. Rousey super fight.

In a recent interview with TMZ, Cyborg weighed in on this possibility.

When Rousey sat atop the women’s bantamweight division, she was of the unflinching opinion that, if a Cyborg fight were to happen, it would be on her terms at 135 pounds. In her interview with TMZ, however, Cyborg squashed this idea, saying that it’s simply not possible for her to get her weight down that low.

“I’ve been trying been trying for three years to drop to 135, because this was the plan,” Cyborg said. “Before, Ronda said ‘I’m the world champion, if you want to fight me you have to go to 135.”

“But this [cut to 135] is off the table,” Cyborg continued. “We tried, and too bad, it cannot [be done]. So we said maybe 140. Everybody knows 140 is hard [for me] too, but I can make it, [135] is something I just can’t make.” 

“Maybe 145, huh?” Cyborg added. “She just has to eat a little bit more.” 

In her interview with TMZ, Cyborg was asked for some parting words for Rousey. The Invicta champ did not hold back.

“Losing is not the end of the world,” Cyborg said of the difficulty Rousey has had in bouncing back from her loss to Holm. “Losing is something that’s part of the sport. I think it’s more important that you compete. Of course everybody wants to win, but in fights you lose and you win. But I think she has to come back to show people, show the girls that are fans of hers that, when you lose, you don’t give up.”

“I just think it’s not a good message. When you’re a winner, ok, you’re happy. When you lose and something happens, it’s not a good message for little kids.

“Nothing’s easy, my life is nothing easy, everybody has a hard life, hard times, everybody wants to give up, but no, this is just to make you strong and get better.” 

Interesting words from the reigning Invicta queen, who is scheduled for a 140-pound catchweight fight with Swedish striker Lina Lansberg this Saturday.

Do you think we’ll ever see a Cyborg vs. Rousey super fight? Sound off, PENN nation!