December 20, 2024

Cris Cyborg explains why she would ‘avoid’ a fight with fellow UFC champion Amanda Nunes

RIO DE JANEIRO — Cris Cyborg and Amanda Nunes are the only Brazilian champions in the UFC today, and they are not interested in fighting each other inside the Octagon.

Nunes, who reigns in the 135-pound division, has said multiple times that she’s not interested in facing the 145-pound champion. For Cyborg, both fighters should continue to dominate their divisions side by side.

“I’d fight Amanda, but I have no interest in fighting her,” Cyborg said during a media day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “We’re two Brazilians, and that would ‘kill’ one Brazilian. Why kill one if we’re representing the same country? It’s us against the world.”

Cyborg has fought many bantamweights during her short run in the UFC, and is campaigning for a bout Holly Holm next. Cat Zigano and Megan Anderson are other options for the former Strikeforce and Invicta FC champion, who would not turn down a fight with her Nunes if that’s what fans want.

“But if it’s an interesting fight for the fans, if they want this one day, we can do it,” Cyborg said. “It’s like ‘Claudinha’ (Gadelha) fighting Jessica (Andrade at UFC Japan). I don’t think it would be cool because we’re Brazilians, but I’d do it. I would avoid it, because Brazil vs Brazil is not cool, and I think fans would be split.”

Nunes is currently scheduled to rematch Valentina Shevchenko in the co-main event of UFC 215in Edmonton, Canada, on Sept. 9, while Cyborg targets a late-2017 return to the cage.

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