As surprising as it was when Holly Holm knocked out Ronda Rousey with a head kick in the second round of their title fight at UFC 193, one person wasn’t as shocked as the rest of the world.
According to Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino, she already knew Ronda could not absorb much damage without going down and it was only a matter of time before someone did it.
“I knew the way. I already knew Ronda could not take a punch. “Cyborg told Combate. “I said it before that she had never been really punched in the face before. If you watch her sparring sessions, only Ronda would hit, nobody would hit her back and we know what the sport is like. She had never taken an opponent who knew how to strike and had knockout power. Most girls she faced were flyweights who moved up, but not Holly Holm. She is my size and that mattered.
“I believe that’s why Ronda said she would only fight me if I dropped to bantamweight, because she’s aware of my physical strength, my size, and she knows that would be a problem for her. Holly Holm is as tall as me, it’s the same, there was no need for someone from a heavier weight class. She came from the same weight class and showed Ronda reality.”
Cyborg, who was being rumored to take on Ronda at the historic UFC 200, still thinks fans are interested in seeing herself and Ronda fighting, despite the brutal loss.
“I believe fans still want to watch this fight, but plans have changed. In fact, Ronda avoided this fight because she wanted to be unbeatable, she wanted to remain undefeated. We will see what happens next and how she handles the loss. It a surprise not only for her, but for everyone who was there. My life did not change, though. I will keep on training. Of course I want to fight. After Holly Holm, it was supposed to be me and her, as Dana White said. I don’t know what will happen now, but I sure am ready and I will be ready the day this fights comes along. I think it was fight that should have happened already.”
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