A potential legend-versus-star matchup may not be as simple as it sounds.
One of the greatest female fighters of all time, Cris Cyborg, is nearing the end of her storied career and appears to be hunting for one final superfight before she hangs up the gloves. Following her most recent victory at PFL Lyon last month, the former UFC and Strikeforce champion called out unbeaten PFL sensation Dakota Ditcheva.
After a few days without a response, Cyborg clarified that she didn’t want to pressure Ditcheva into accepting the bout. Now, Ditcheva has finally addressed the callout — and made it clear the hesitation has nothing to do with fear.
“I was honored to be called out, but I just feel like it didn’t make very much sense,” Ditcheva told Ariel Helwani. “If Cyborg could make 135 and she had a bit more time — she’s saying it’s her last fight — I don’t have the time to put that much weight on because I’m not a big 125er. If she was even close to 135 and you paid me some big money, hell yeah, I’d get in there — but it just didn’t make sense.”
Ditcheva also pushed back on the idea that Cyborg would be “giving” her a massive opportunity.
“Respectfully, she’s not giving the fight. I am,” Ditcheva said. “I’d 100 percent be the one who sells that fight more. It would be a superfight, but she’s calling me out like she’s picking me. She needs me. It’s big because of me.”
“Superfights take two people. I can make 135 for a superfight in the fall,” Cyborg wrote on social media. “I’m 40. My body carries much less muscle than it did when I struggled to make 140. I won’t miss weight for my retirement fight.”
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