'Cyborg' still wants Rousey fight to finish their 'novela'

After years of endless chatter and wishful thinking, Cristiane Justino still hasn't given up on fighting Ronda Rousey.

"Cyborg," long touted as the most capable foil for Rousey when the former UFC champ was atop the women's MMA heap, has repeatedly called out "Rowdy" in recent years. A bout's failed to materialize, largely due to Justino's refusal - and, as it turns out, inability - to make 135 pounds, and Rousey's reluctance to meet her at a catchweight. The judoka has also accused Justino of steroid use in the past.

Still, Justino remains optimistic she'll face Rousey someday, considering their respective legacies hinge on settling the prolonged conflict between them.

"I respect all the girls regardless of who they are," Justino told MMAjunkie's Fernanda Prates. "But I believe there's a 'novela' (Brazilian soap opera) between Ronda and I that we need to finish. I think that's a fight everyone wants to watch.

"I think they ask the same (questions) to her. I think everywhere, they ask the same thing. That's why I think this fight needs to happen. So that we can finish our careers saying we did that great fight and not that we should have done that fight. We did it. So let's wait. If she takes that initiative. It's up to her."

Justino has been a terror in her runs with Strikeforce and Invicta FC, earning her last 10 victories by knockout. Rousey enjoyed a 12-0 streak of her own, the first eight victories all coming by armbar. As the UFC's first women's bantamweight champion, she successfully defended the belt six times, each by finish. In other words, Justino versus Rousey has "women's MMA's first superfight" written all over it.

But since losing the strap to Holly Holm last November - by head-kick knockout, no less - Rousey's next move is nebulous. As far as "Cyborg" is concerned, returning to peak form after a loss is synonymous with elite status.

"I think after that Holly fight, she's still trying to reorganize; I don't know if she's back to training," Justino said. "Losses can happen for any athlete. That's sports. One day you win, and the next you lose. But you need to know how to deal with that.

"Something I learned at Chute Boxe is that you should think about your loss for 24 hours. Once those are over, done, you need to train for the next one. And that's it. You learn, and you get better. Of course, it's not easy to lose, but you need to see where you went wrong and get better. I think that makes you a better athlete and person as well. ... That's what you need to show. That you don't continue only when you're winning. If you lose, you can come back. There's no shame in losing."

While Rousey sorts out her immediate future, "Cyborg" will headline UFC Fight Night 95 against newcomer Lina Lansberg. As in Justino's own promotional debut, a first-round TKO over Leslie Smith, the fight will be contested at a catchweight of 140 pounds.

UFC Fight Night 95 is scheduled for Sep. 24 in Justino's native Brazil.