Zingano: My next fight will make you go ‘AAAAA’

UFC women’s bantamweight Cat Zingano recently sat down with Inside MMA Correspondent Ron Kruck to talk about the last year, and who she is fighting next. Zingano has not lost fought since losing to Ronda Rousey in 14 seconds at UFC 184 on February 28, 2015.

She then injured her knee, and has not fought in over a year. However, ring rust does not appear to be an issue with the fighter. She started fighting in 2008, and had just one fight that year. Then she had just one fight in 2009. In 2010 she had a more usual three fights. But then the pattern returned. 

One fight in 2011. One fight in 2012. One fight in 2012. One fight in 2014. And one fight in 2015.

The fight before the Rousey loss was a dominating win over Miesha Tate. Through an unusual set of circumstances, Tate’s following fight was a title shot vs. Rousey, that won fight of the night. Zingano’s dream fight right now is a shot at Miesha Tate.

She isn’t getting it.

But she hinted at what she is getting. She said the fight was huge, and that it was near her July 1 birthday. UFC 200 is on July 9, and is expected to be the biggest card in UFC history. That means Zingano’s fight has to be huge indeed.

“This is a very, very valid opponent,” said Zingano. “It’s going to be a very, very exciting fight. I’m super stoked with what you guys are going to see. Because I know as soon as you hear it, you are going to be like ‘AAAAA’.'”

Looking at the UFC official Top 10 rankings eliminates some names.

Champion Miesha Tate

1 Holly Holm 

2 Ronda Rousey 

3 Cat Zingano 

4 Amanda Nunes 

5 Julianna Pena 

6 Sara McMann 

7 Jessica Eye 

8 Bethe Correia 

9 Liz Carmouche 

10 Sarah Kaufman 

Tate’s first title defense is vs. Ronda Rousey, so Rousey is out.

Holly Holm would be an “AAAAA” fight. However, given that Holm (and the UFC) lost what would have been the biggest fight in women’s MMA history when Holm opted to not to wait for a rematch with Rousey, is seems unlikely that she and they will miss the possibility again. If Rousey beats Tate and regains the title, a rematch with Holm will be a millionaire-making fight.

Sara McMann and Jessica Eye are fighting at UFC Fight Night 88 on May 29, 2016 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, so they are out.

Nunes is not an “AAAAA” fight, particularly given her underwhelming performance vs. Valentina Shevchenko. Julianna Pena would be a semi “AAAAAA” fight.

Invicta FC featherweight champion CrisCyborg is signed by the UFC, but fights for Invicta. Although the UFC does not have a women’s 145 division, Cyborg was signed so she could drop to 135 and fight Ronda Rousey, in what would have been the biggest fight in WMMA history. However, Rousey lost to Holly Holm, who lost to Miesha Tate, so the superfight is now less super. And Cyborg does not believe she can make 135.

However, Cris Cyborg has indicated that she is in negoations with the UFC over a fight. That is a fight that would make the fans go “AAAAA” 

However, Cyborg is fighting Leslie Smith at UFC 198 on  May 14, 2016 at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil.

So odds for the next Cat Zingano are

Julianna Pena (1.5-1)

Holly Holm (2-1)