Holm not bothered Cris Cyborg left out of inaugural women’s featherweight title fight

The UFC did an abrupt about face, and after long saying that there was insufficient depth at women’s featherweight, decided that the time was now. Invicta FC featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, the world’s #1 female fighter, said she needed until March to recover from the last weight cut. However, the UFC was determined to go ahead with a title fight at UFC 208 on February 11, 2017, and came up with the unlikeliest title fight in league history.

Bantamweights Holly Holm and Germaine de Randamie will step up. Holm is on a two-fight losing streak, while de Randamie is outside the top 10 at bantamweight. This new division launch stands in the starkest contrast to the UFC’s launch of the women’s strawweight division, when the league got 11 fighters from Invicta FC, eight more fighters from tryouts, and centered an entire season of TUF around finding a champion.

After UFC on FOX 22, Holm discussed how her women’s featherweight title fight came together, her thoughts on Cris Cyborg being left out of that first 145-pound title fight, and how she sees Amanda Nunes vs. Ronda Rousey going.

“‘Do you want to fight Cyborg at 140?’ I said, ‘Sure, let’s do 140.’ That didn’t go through so they said, ‘Cat Zingano January 28th in Denver.’ I said, ‘OK.’ And then that didn’t go through. And then they just called.”

Holm was asked if there was any hesitation on her part, knowing that Cyborg was not involved, and if she had any concerns about what the perception would be.

“Not at all,” said Holm. “‘Hey Holly do you want to fight Germaine de Randamie at 145,’ that’s as far as I saw it. I do want to take advantage of opportunities that are given to me. And right now I feel like I have everything to prove still – I’m coming off of two losses. I’m ready to get in there and do what it takes. Whether it’s at 145 or 135.

“I’m just ready to try and make a statement again.”