White: Smith 'only one who wanted' Cyborg fight

[Wild]

After the UFC announced that Cristiane "Cyborg" Justino will be making her long-awaited promotional debut later this year at UFC 198 against Leslie Smith, most of the reactions were positive, but some were critical of Cyborg's first Octagon opponent, believing UFC officials simply want a showcase fight for the Brazilian in her hometown.

UFC President Dana White claims that is not necessarily the case -- in a response to a fan on Twitter, White said that Smith was the only one who agreed to fight Cyborg.


View: https://twitter.com/danawhite/status/714512935150682112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw


LINK: Dana White: Leslie Smith 'only one who wanted' the Cyborg fight, 'begged for it'

 

[Wild]

Leslie's got huge balls. Win or lose, respect to her for stepping up.

 

[canofsticks]

That's kinda what we all figured though, right?
Cyborg is a high-risk low-reward fight for most in the top 10, top 5 especially.

She's an unranked killer. Why risk fighting her when you can get a less dangerous, higher ranked (or at least decently ranked) fighter?

 

[PeteyParker]

if I recall Holm said she was wanted to go up in weight and fight Cyborg, guess she wants the rematch more.

 

[canofsticks]

if I recall Holm said she was wanted to go up in weight and fight Cyborg, guess she wants the rematch more.

I thought she had only mentioned that she was willing to fight her a weight class up, not necessarily as her next fight. Could be wrong though

 

[Silverball]

I read his tweet as Leslie was the only fighter they were willing to let step up and fight Cyborg who actually signed the bout agreement. Other fighters that have gone on record saying they would fight Cyborg at a catchweight, like Holm and Tate, either have other fights tentatively scheduled or the UFC is trying to avoid the PR disaster that would occur if Cyborg were to dispose of either of those names in the manner we've grown accustomed to. That would reflect badly on the UFC and Rousey in particular, which is something they'd avoid at all costs. When Dana says Leslie "begged for it", I take that to mean she expressed a strong interest in that fight if it wasn't already booked. Most of us thought it would be Cat, and I'd imagine that Leslie thought the same.

 

[Robbie Hart]

 

[FadeToBlack]

How can we believe Dana when he says that she was the only one that one of the fight? I don't necessarily believe him about the one & half-million pay-per-view buys either.

 

[Severianb]

Is this the part where we start believing Dana White?

I'm sure you gave a TON of other fighters a crack, right Dana?

And I'm sure you gave Leslie a bunch of other opportunities to fight at her real weight class for the same or better money than this fight, right Dana?

I'm sure Leslie had no fears of being blackballed if she turned down this fight like you have blackballed other fighters for turning down fights, right Dana?

This is my wedding photo, right Dana?

 

[BanMe]

I seriously doubt that White is telling the whole truth. I think it's much more likely she's the only one that accepted the other stipulations associated. I'm willing to bet someone like Cat didn't take it because White wouldn't guarantee a title fight with a win.

 

[member 603]

Only one who stepped up.... Yet Cyborg is a nobody and everyone would have beaten her, right Dana?..... Fuck you ya piece of shit

 

[tang]

it's cuz Leslie is a badass from Team 209! I'm hoping for an upset like how Nate crashed Conor's party. 209 never scared!!! actually I don't know if she trains in 209, Ceasar has gyms in few places around the bay.

 

[Jehannum]

Only one who stepped up.... Yet Cyborg is a nobody and everyone would have beaten her, right Dana?..... Fuck you ya piece of shit

he gave her a UFC contract quite a long time ago ..... and another, and a guaranteed title shot etc. she took NONE of them

and she is a known PED user. no one owes Cyborg anything

 

[Narcosynthesis]

if I recall Holm said she was wanted to go up in weight and fight Cyborg, guess she wants the rematch more.

That was before Dana called her bluff.

Seriously though, her manager who recently said she would be willing to go up in weight. The same manager that thought Holly fighting Miesha was going to be an easy pay day. The first time Cyborg was ever mentioned by Holly's camp was before the Ronda fight and they were all for fighting Cyborg but it had to be at 135 lbs.

My impression is none of these top contenders at 135 want to move up in weight to fight Cyborg. They would do it if asked but they are not going to push for the fight and demand it. There is too much to lose and the likelihood of looking horrible due to a tremendous size disadvantage is highly probable.

 

[PeteyParker]

That was before Dana called her bluff.

Seriously though, her manager who recently said she would be willing to go up in weight. The same manager that thought Holly fighting Miesha was going to be an easy pay day. The first time Cyborg was ever mentioned by Holly's camp was before the Ronda fight and they were all for fighting Cyborg but it had to be at 135 lbs.

My impression is none of these top contenders at 135 want to move up in weight to fight Cyborg. They would do it if asked but they are not going to push for the fight and demand it. There is too much to lose and the likelihood of looking horrible due to a tremendous size disadvantage is highly probable.

seriously when are turning on the lights on your AV.....respectfully

 

[Tom O'Bedlam]

Doesnt matter who you put in there, Cyborg is going to maul them.

 

[Jehannum]

Doesnt matter who you put in there, Cyborg is going to maul them.

what do you consider her natural weight class to be?

 

[Tom O'Bedlam]

what do you consider her natural weight class to be?

I would bet she walks at 160-175

 

[Jehannum]

I would bet she walks at 160-175

damn I knew I needed to be more specific.

I mean what weight do you think she should be fighting at, ignoring that the UFC doesn't have any higher divisions

 

[Tom O'Bedlam]

I'd put her at 155.

 

[Jehannum]

I'd put her at 155.

me too

well the men's lightweight division is stacked if she's looking to face people her own size

 

[Tom O'Bedlam]

me too

well the men's lightweight division is stacked if she's looking to face people her own size

To be fair, many fighters are guilty of much larger cuts. Anthony Johnson, Johny Hendricks, Anderson Silva, Tito Ortiz, Henry Cejudo

 

[Tom O'Bedlam]

All those fighters have cut at least 20 pounds of their natural weight to fight. Anderson walks at the same weight Jon Jones did before Bones went all beast mode.

 

[Jehannum]

To be fair, many fighters are guilty of much larger cuts. Anthony Johnson, Johny Hendricks, Anderson Silva, Tito Ortiz, Henry Cejudo

well it's not so much that I think she should be fighting 205 pounders that cut to 155 but that she should be fighting those of the same sex, and as it happens, men have weight classes she can fight in without having to cut to 135.

 

[Tom O'Bedlam]

well it's not so much that I think she should be fighting 205 pounders that cut to 155 but that she should be fighting those of the same sex, and as it happens, men have weight classes she can fight in without having to cut to 135.

Ah, I see what you mean.

Yeah it seems silly to have her in the UFC when she is easily 2 weights above their highest class.