Cris Cyborg vacates Invicta title, calls out GDR

Cris ‘Cyborg’ has called out UFC featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie.

After her victory, GDR at 145 pounds, the UFC determined that she will be the No. 1 contender for my title belt, said Cyborg as transcribed by Shaun Al-Shatti for MMA Fighting. I’m healthy now and I’m strong, and I really want to show my fans why I’m still 10 years undefeated at 145 pounds.

July 29th, the UFC will be in south California, and I would like to fight in my backyard in America in Anaheim, California. So, Germaine, I hope your hand is healthy enough to accept my challenge.

The UFC signed Cris ‘Cyborg’ with an eye towards dropping weight and then challenging the seemingly undefeatable Ronda Rousey. In the meantime, Cyborg fought for Invicta and at catchweights. However, Cyborg’s cuts were dangerous, and Rousey is done, so the UFC created a featherweight division. Then, ironically, a drug Cyborg was taking to combat the effects of the extreme weight cuts caused a USADA test to be flagged.

The UFC went ahead with the division anyway, putting Holly Holm on a two-fight losing streak at 135 vs. the #10 ranked 135er Germaine de Randamie. GDR won, Cyborg was cleared to fight, and now the division gets real.