UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Moments after her buzzer-beating knockout of Leslie Smith in the Bellator 259 main event Friday, Cris Cyborg let the world know who she wants her next challenge to be.
After she called for a fight against former UFC title challenger and current Bellator contender Cat Zingano in the cage, Cyborg (24-2 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) explained the callout in a post-fight news conference.
“I’m 16 years (into) fighting,” Cyborg told MMA Junkie. “I have a lot of experience. You cannot be a GOAT if you’re scared of the cat. So, I asked (to) see if Scott Coker agrees with me. I’d like to fight Cat Zingano. No disrespect to her. I know she’s a real fighter, but I think it’s going to be a great fight between us.”
Historically, Cyborg fights once or twice per calendar year. Coming out of her first fight of 2021, Cyborg relayed that she wanted to get back to competing as soon as she can. It’ll be up to Bellator executives Scott Coker and Mike Kogan to make the call as to when exactly that will be.
“(I want to fight) as soon as possible,” Cyborg said. “I always am training. I’ve been training for a long time. I don’t just train for the camp. I train all year. When it’s close to the fight, I just do something different for my opponent. But any time Scott Coker wants to ask me for a fight or to talk to my manager, I know I’m ready.”
Cyborg, 35, has now defended her women’s featherweight championship twice since she took the title from Julia Budd in January 2020.
Zingano (11-4 MMA, 2-0 BMMA), meanwhile, has won both of her fights under the Bellator banner. Following a promotional debut victory over Gabby Holloway in September, Zingano submitted Olivia Parker by first-round armbar in April.
Bellator 259 took place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card aired on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.
Cris Cyborg wants Cat Zingano after Bellator 259: ‘You cannot be a GOAT if you’re scared of the cat’
