"And now here's the big question: What now?" #UFC207 https://t.co/KCckIkNI22
— #UFCMelbourne (@ufc) November 22, 2016
Former women's Bantamweight champion -- and box office behemoth -- Ronda Rousey will return to the Octagon for the first time in more than one full year, challenging newly-minted 135-pound queenpin, Amanda Nunes, at UFC 207 inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Dec. 30, 2016. It could very well mark the final fight for the crossover superstar, who recently hinted that she would retire from the sport sooner than later.
UFC is well aware of this unfortunate reality. And so, too, are her biggest rivals, including Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, among others. So it should come as no major shock that UFC has already started to fire up its promotional machine six weeks out from showtime (sorry, Daniel), hoping to cash in big on Rousey's upcoming fight before she rides off into the sunset to make babies movies.
It should also come as no surprise that Cyborg is not amused.
The UFC machine is hard at work for the return of Ronda Rousey. https://t.co/C7dm5zICC0
— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) November 22, 2016
Cyborg has been angling for a fight with Rousey seemingly forever. Company President Dana White has assured fight fans that Rousey "absolutely" wants the fight, but actions speak louder than words. Meanwhile, Cyborg has tested the possibilities below 145 pounds ... with terrifying consequences. That's not something she intends to do moving forward, revealing in a recent interview with "Submission Radio" that she will remain at Featherweight -- even though UFC does not have a 145-pound female division -- unless a "super fight" finally emerges.
"You know, the first time I made 140 in Brazil, Curitiba, the first time I did it was because it would be in my city," she said. "And then second reason was because it was UFC Brazil. The main thing is to do is open an opportunity, maybe to do super fight with Ronda Rousey at 140. And I just showed them that I can make 140 for a super fight. And my second fight was supposed to be 145, I was supposed to be to defend my belt. And then again, I had the opportunity to fight 140 in Brazil.
"And I really respect all my opponents, but the girl in my last fight [Lina Lansberg], nobody knows her, and she’s had like 70 Muay Thai fights," Cyborg continued. "She’s a really, really good opponent, but for me to sacrifice to make 140, I’d like a super fight. You know, something the fans would like to watch. Because my last opponent, her last win was at 145 pounds. And then sometimes, I don’t see it’s worth making 140 to make a fight like this. If you want a super fight, doesn’t matter the weight – It can be 150, can be 155, 145."
Perhaps Cyborg has finally seen and heard enough. She has lobbied White and Co. to build a division around her, but so far, it has fallen on deaf ears. However, with Rousey having one foot out UFC's door -- and Conor McGregor, the next biggest draw, taking some time away from the sport -- Cyborg might finally have a sliver of leverage.
Better late than never.