Decorated Champion Boxer Cecilia Brækhus Steps Up To Fight Cris Cyborg When No Fighter In The UFC Women’s Division Will


In MMA today, clearly the most dominant female fighter in the sport, hands down, is Cristiane Justino, professionally known as Cris Cyborg. With an official record of 16 wins, one loss (her first fight), and one no contest (originally a win but turned into a “no contest” after Cyborg failed a USADA drug test), Cyborg has dominated every woman she’s fought in the MMA cage for over a decade. Some of the MMA fighters who fell to Cyborg include Shayna Baszler, Marloes Coenen, Charmaine Tweet, and the extremely popular Gina Carano.

Cris Cyborg and Leslie Smith stare each other down at the UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic weigh-ins. One day later, Cyborg would be victorious in her UFC debut. [Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images]
Despite the aforementioned accolades, Cris Cyborg had never fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) until UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic. Taking place in the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil, on May 14, Cyborg made her UFC debut in a catchweight fight against Leslie Smith. Just like in her last fights, Cyborg dominated Smith in the first round.

Cris Cyborg’s dominating performance further cemented her legacy as the best female MMA fighter in the world today, but it probably hindered any other UFC women fighters to signing the dotted line to fight her. Because of this, Cyborg is sitting on the sidelines waiting for someone to step up. Reportedly, a female fighter is stepping up but she isn’t a UFC fighter. Decorated champion boxer Cecilia Brækhus has called out Cris Cyborg in a boxing fight.

The news was first announced on Norwegian news outlet Nettavisen via loose translation through Low Kick. Though Cecilia Brækhus called out Cris Cyborg, in reality, Cyborg actually contacted Brækhus for the potential fight asking how much U.S. women can make in the sport. Brækhus provided the following statement below pertaining to the fantasy fight (Note: Grammar has been corrected for easier reading).

“There have been rumors that she would like to go over to boxing for a while, for no one would meet her in the UFC. I also think she is looking to top her career with a big fight that will create tremendous attention throughout the world, a fight between her and me would.

“It seems that I have a mandatory fight against the winner of Lauren and Svensson, so a fight against Cyborg is the earliest in 2017. But it is good for her too because then she can train boxing.

“It will be gigantic, both in Europe and the United States. Both boxing and MMA audiences will follow.”

Cecilia Brækhus is a champion currently holding the IBO, WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO welterweight championships. She is undefeated with 28 fights. Brækhus may now fight Cris Cyborg in a boxing match. [Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images]
It should be reported that Cris Cyborg is no stranger in stepping out of MMA to fight in another combat sport. Besides her near-perfect record in MMA, Cyborg also has fighting careers in kickboxing, amateur wrestling, and submission grappling. Boxing just happens to be the next combat sport Cyborg wants to try her hand at. Also, if Cyborg were to jump to boxing, she is going in not to be undefeated per se as she has losses on all three of her professional records. Cyborg just wants to fight, and she wants to get paid.

Ultimately, a boxing fight between Cris Cyborg and Cecilia Brækhus will be a fantasy match for both boxing and MMA fans. However, most of Cyborg’s fans want to see her fight Ronda Rousey to settle the score, once and for all, who truly is the best female MMA fighter in the sport today.

[Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images]

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