Cutting down her weight at from her usual of 145 pounds, Cristiane Justino (14-1) will not face the UFC women’s champion, Rhonda Rousey.
Justino, known as the “Cyborg”, will cut her weight down to 140 pounds. This is in preparation for a catchweight bout that is to happen November – Invicta FC 15. The opponent for the current Invicta FC featherweight champion has not been identified. This was announced by the Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp in a post-fight press conference in Invicta FC 14.
This will be the main event in Invicta where the 115-pound champion, Livia Renata Souza (8-0) will defend her title against the rising star and undefeated prospect, Alexa Grasso (7-0).
Souza was able to submit Katja Kankaanpaa with a triangle choke to take the title in her promotional debut match in April. The undefeated 25-year-old from Brazil has only competed in the sport for less than three years and already holds a major belt.
Because of Grasso’s injury, she was forced out to challenge Souza for a title match at Invicta FC 14. The 22-year-old was able to get attention during having a young career when the UFC President, Dana White gives her praises as a fighter. She has showcased three straight wins under the Invicta banner.
Justino has shared her idea of having a change in weight class for her to be able to battle the UFC women’s bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey. The Brazilian is definitely on top of her game by having dominated the competition outside the UFC and never did she lose since her MMA debut in 2005.
Justino has attempted to convince Rousey to fight at 145 pounds or a catchweight of 140 due to the difficulty of the weight cut, but “Rowdy” has refused to budge on the notion of competing at anything but 135. She did, however, recently say her career would feel “unfinished” without a fight against Justino.
Justino and the mixed martial arts bantamweight champ are both seen as a potential threat to Rousey’s aura of invincibility. The challenger makes her first step to the match that she wants as she competes at 140 pounds at Invicta FC 15.
