UNCASVILLE, Conn. – If Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg has her way, her next title defense will come against Cat Zingano. But is Bellator president Scott Coker on board with that?
Cyborg looked dominant Friday night at Mohegan Sun Arena, defeating Leslie Smith by TKO in a rematch from five years ago. The finish didn’t come until nine seconds remained in the fifth round. Up until that point, Cyborg was sharp with her striking and put a beating on Smith, who displayed toughness to last almost to the final bell.
“Leslie really impressed me,” Coker said. “I don’t think I can remember the last time Cyborg went five rounds. I honestly can’t remember. … Leslie had her mind set that she was gonna fight her heart out, and she did. I think this was a victory for Leslie in a way.
“Cyborg looked very smart, tactical, not rushing, taking her time on her punches, and she did what she had to do. She looked great.”
For the record: This was just the second time in Cyborg’s 16-year career that she fought into Round 5. The other was in December 2017 at UFC 219 where she defeated Holly Holm by unanimous decision to defend her title.
Since joining Bellator in January 2020, Cyborg (24-2 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) won the 145-pound title with a TKO of Julia Budd and has since defended it twice with relative ease. So what’s next? A rematch with Budd, who’s No. 1 in the promotion’s rankings, could be in order, but a pairing with former UFC title challenger Zingano, who is off to a 2-0 start in her Bellator tenure, might make more sense.
It’s what Cyborg was vocal about wanting after her win Friday night. Seems just a matter of whether Coker and Co. want the same.
“That’s one of the reasons we brought Cat here, is that she has a victory over Amanda Nunes. This is something that I think she came here to fight Cyborg,” Coker said. “She’s had a couple fights, and she feels pretty good about it. Will we do that fight next? I’m not sure, but we’ll definitely have a conversation next week with everybody.”
One thing is clear, though: Everyone continues to gun for Cyborg.
“Just like Leslie, there are girls that call us all the time and say, ‘I want to fight Cyborg.’ It doesn’t stop,” Coker said. “These ladies want to challenge themselves. They want to fight the world’s best, and they know she’s the GOAT. They all have a bullseye for her.”
Cris Cyborg vs. Cat Zingano next? ‘I’m not sure,’ Scott Coker says after Bellator 259
