After Cris Cyborg’s win over Holly Holm at UFC 219, the name that floated around to be her next challenger is bantamweight champion, Amanda Nunes. It is a match-up that UFC president Dana White wants, but Cyborg herself is not too much a fan of.
From Nunes’ end, it is a fight that she feels would help them leave their marks on the sport. Her coach in American Top Team Conan Silveira agrees and believes fans are onboard as well.
“I think it’s not 100 percent, but 1,000 percent going to happen,” Silveira told MMAjunkie. “I think it’s something everybody wants to see, even the ones that think they’re going to lose something. I just think it’s a champions fight. I think they need to have that fight. It’s a big push for MMA in general, females and males. People want to see it. I think they have the best opportunity to leave their marks on history.”
Silveira thinks it will be a tough fight for both women, but it is something that would leave a lasting impression on their legacies.
“I believe that when you fight and you get to be a contender, it’s really hard. When you win and you become a champion, it’s even harder than that,” Silveira said. “But when you have a chance to leave your name in history, I think you have to do it. It’s something that’s good for everybody.
“If Cyborg was an American Top Team fighter, yeah, it really doesn’t make any sense. But still, I think the chance of what’s going to come from the fight is something only a few people have to do in life.”
Nunes last fought at UFC 215 last September where she defended the UFC women’s 135-pound title for the second time against Valentina Shevchenko via a split decision verdict.