Cris 'Cyborg' Justino says she wants to fight Ronda Rousey in April

ByBrett Okamoto ESPN logo
Sunday, August 9, 2015

A potential mega-fight between UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and Cris 'Cyborg' Justino should happen in April, according to a recent social media post by Justino.



Justino (14-1), wrote via Instagram on Saturday she would like to fight Rousey in April 2016. Rousey (12-0) is expected to face Miesha Tate for the third time in December, although the fight is not yet official.



"Ronda if you're busy in (December), how about April?" Justino wrote. "Then we can make sure everyone knows we are BOTH clean by doing Olympic testing leading up to the fight."



The second point is in reference to Rousey's repeated claims that Justino is on performance-enhancing drugs. Justino, 30, was suspended one year after testing positive for an anabolic steroid in December 2011. In recent years, she has passed multiple random drug tests in Nevada and California.



As the Invicta FC 145-pound champion, Justino is currently subject to drug testing administered by state athletic commissions overseeing her individual bouts. Should she sign to a UFC fight against Rousey, she would be subject to additional testing under the UFC's anti-doping program, which is administered by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.



The program, which went into effect July 1, includes blood and urine tests.



UFC officials have repeatedly stated a Rousey-Justino fight must take place at 135 pounds. The UFC does not currently promote a female 145-pound weight class.



Justino has expressed doubt in her ability to make 135 pounds. She is tentatively planning to cut to a 140-pound catchweight in her next appearance, sometime in the fall.



During a recent appearance on SportsCenter, Justino urged the UFC to make the matchup "for all the fans who want to watch this fight."



Rousey is scheduled to begin filming on a Peter Berg-directed action film titled "Mile 22" in January.



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