UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey isn’t interested in moving up in weight for a superfight fight with well-known featherweight Cris Justino, since she’s “cheater and disgrace.”
Rousey said so during a question and answer session with fans at the UFC 162 Fan Expo last Saturday.
When asked if she’d consider fighting “Cyborg” at 145-pounds, the undefeated titleholder didn’t mince any words.
“I’m not making exceptions or bending over backwards for someone whose a cheater and disgrace,” Rousey said.
Justino, formerly known as Cris Santos before getting a divorce in 2011, was suspended from competition for a year after failing a post-fight drug test for the anabolic steroid stanozolol.
Cyborg pleaded that she did not take anything besides over the counter supplements, but the California State Athletic Commission wasn’t buying the tainted supplement excuse and upheld their suspension.
Despite being accused of using performance enhancing drugs throughout her career, this was the only time Justino failed a drug test.
Rousey, who is 7-0, finishing all of her opponents inside the cage with a first round armbar, was in negotiations to fight Justino inside the Octagon early this year.
However, a deal was never reached, with Cyborg arguing that she is physically unable to make the bantamweight limit of 135-pounds, and subsequently asked to be released from her UFC contract.
The muscle-bound Brazilian striker continues her winning ways under the Invicta Fighting Championships banner, capturing the league’s inaugural featherweight title by defeating Marloes Coenen by TKO on Saturday.
Rousey doesn’t fight until UFC 168 in December, where she rematches an old rival in Miesha Tate.
The Olympic medal winning Judoka submitted Tate after being in a little trouble early on during their March 2012 encounter.