Cyborg to UFC: Give me a fight or release me
Cris Cyborg is at her wit's end.
In an ultimatum sent to the UFC via Twitter on Friday, the featherweight stalwart has demanded to either be booked for a fight or released from her contract:
2 weeks my manager call @seanshelby about my next fight but no news! @ufc if you don't want to fight me, release me! #letsgochamp @danawhite pic.twitter.com/E5uzl9Z36l
— #UFC214 #LetsGoChamp (@criscyborg) April 14, 2017
Since being granted a retroactive therapeutic use exemption for a banned diuretic by the USADA earlier this year, the 31-year-old has vacated the Invicta FC featherweight title she held for over three years and called for a date with UFC champ Germaine de Randamie at UFC 214 - scheduled for July 29 in Anaheim, Calif.
Cyborg claimed her management reached out to matchmaker Sean Shelby - presumably to put the wheels of her next fight in motion - two weeks ago, but has yet to field a response, hence the ultimatum.
De Randamie revealed she may undergo surgery to repair a lingering hand injury shortly after winning the title at UFC 208 in February, but has yet to provide an update on her immediate future, which may play a role in Cyborg's inactivity.
The UFC essentially launched the women's featherweight division for Cyborg, only for her to turn down a spot in its inaugural title bout to recover from her last weight cut and be subsequently flagged by the USADA late last year.
As a result, the Brazilian has made just two trips to the Octagon since making the move from Invicta last year, and hasn't fought since September, when she dispatched Lina Lanserg by second-round TKO in the 140-pound catchweight main event of UFC Fight Night 95.
- With h/t to champions.co