Dana White responds to Joe Rogan’s plead for a women’s featherweight division surrounding Cris Cyborg

By Russell Ess - September 28, 2016

The buzz surrounding Cris Cyborg’s cut down to 140-pounds for her catchweight fight against Lina Lansberg was one of the most talked about things leading up to UFC Fight Night 95 in Brazil.

Invicta champion

The Invicta 145-pound featherweight champion eventually made weight and according to a member from Lansberg’s team, rehydrated back up to 170-pounds and got a second-round finish over Lansberg in a dominating performance.

invicta featherweight champion

Immediately following the fight, Joe Rogan sent out a tweet directed to the UFC, pleading for them to open a 145-pound women’s division in the promotion.

Rogan said of Cyborg, “Her torturing herself to make 140 is insane and she’s incredibly entertaining,” and also stated why he personally felt a women’s featherweight division would do well for the company and sport of mixed martial arts.

Cristiane Justino

UFC President Dana White spoke on the “UFC Unfiltered” podcast following Cyborg’s fight over the weekend and the topic came up with hosts Matt Serra and Jim Norton.

The hosts mentioned how Cyborg had a very difficult time making the 140-pound cut and asked if there was any possibility of opening up a new division, while also mentioning Rogan bringing the topic up.

“I don’t think so,” White said (at -50:20 of the audio). “First of all, there aren’t enough 145-pound female fighters to start a 145-pound division. There just isn’t. Cyborg is this one girl that’s floating out there who has that type of star power. I mean, she headlined Brazil for us.”

White added some interesting information regarding former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.

superfight

“Listen, Ronda wants to fight her,” White stated. “They’d have to figure out at what weight they’d fight, you know? But Ronda wants that fight.”

When asked if a 140-pound catchweight is a possibility, White said he feels that would be possible.

“Ronda could do 40,” White said as he mentioned that he thinks that she competed at a higher weight in judo.

What are your thoughts on Dana White’s comments? Do you think that there aren’t enough female fighters of UFC caliber to create a female 145-pound division? Will we finally see Ronda Rousey vs. Cris Cyborg, perhaps in a 140-pound catchweight bout? Sound off in the comment section!

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM


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Cris 'Cyborg' Justino