CRIS CYBORG is open to taking advantage of her Bellator contract by making an “epic” switch to boxing and pro wrestling.
The MMA legend finally left the UFC in 2019, three years after her debut in the promotion, following a public falling out with boss Dana White.
But Bellator chief Scott Coker – who worked with Cyborg at Strikeforce from 2009 – 2011 – snapped up the 34-year-old on a multi-fight deal and put her straight into a title fight against Julia Budd on Saturday.
UFC fighters are prohibited from competing in most combat sports due to their contract – despite Conor McGregor’s 2017 exemption against Floyd Mayweather – but rivals Bellator take the opposite approach.
And Cyborg – who has competed in grappling, Muay Thai and MMA – is open to a dream boxing debut or pro wrestling stint once her Bellator debut is complete.
She told SunSport: “The nice thing in my contract is that it allows me to do the other stuff I want to pursue, like pro wrestling and boxing.
“I like to have new challenges and if these opportunities come to me for sure I am open to it as it will be good for my career.
“I am focusing on Julia but the only martial arts I haven’t competed in professionally is boxing. So for me it would be epic for this to happen.”
Cyborg suffered her first defeat in 13 years when Amanda Nunes knocked out the fellow Brazilian in just 51 seconds in late 2018.
Afterwards UFC president White insisted Cyborg did not want to rematch Nunes, while the ex-champion disagreed and claimed the promoter was “bullying her”.
Things took an ugly turn when the the former UFC star 'doctored' a video with false subtitles of White saying he does not “tell the truth”.
Despite the stressful relationship with her former employees, Cyborg feels “blessed” to once again link up with promoter Coker and focus on what is going on in the cage, not out of it.
She said: “I have worked with Scott Coker before and we had an amazing time together.
“To be working with him again I feel very blessed and very happy.
“The last year a lot of things were going on, and I had to decide what was best for my career and for my legacy.
“But firstly you have to be happy where you’re at. And respect the people around you.
“Now I wake up every day and I am thankful for where I am and to know in my heart that I am happy and no one can stop this. When you have no stress, that is the best thing.”
Cyborg, a former champion with Strikeforce, Invicta and the UFC has the opportunity to become the first woman to hold titles in four different promotions when she challenges Bellator featherweight champion Budd.
And after a 15-year road the Brazilian – who trains in San Diego, California, said: “This is history, to hold four titles in different organisations and to achieve this is my ultimate focus.
“It represents all the dedication, all the hard work and the self belief it takes to not quit, believe in yourself and show off my faith.”
- Bellator 238: Budd vs. Cyborg will air live on Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports Arena at 03:00am on Sunday 26th January.
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