Cris “Cyborg” Justino has been labeled by many as the one female fighter who has a chance to strip Ronda Rousey of her UFC title. A potential fight between the two has been discussed for years, but Cyborg would have to get down to the bantamweight division in order for it to happen.
If the fight ever does come to fruition, UFC president Dana White is confident it would shatter previous pay-per-view records.
On Wednesday, White told Jim Rome that a Rousey-Cyborg fight would “definitely” eclipse 2 million PPV buys.
When that fight happens, I guarantee you that thing does over two million pay-per-view buys,” White said, via Ryan McKinnell of Yahoo Sports. “It will be massive.”
The most PPVs a UFC event has ever sold was 1.6 million when Brock Lesnar fought Frank Mir and Georges St-Pierre took on Thiago Alves at UFC 100. UFC has lost some of its popularity since then, but White doesn’t think that would be an issue.
“There’s no denying that Cyborg is a beast,” he said. “She’s tough and many people, including myself, believe that Ronda’s the best in the world and the best female fighter ever. It’s one of those fights that’s very intriguing.”
White would likely make sure the card was loaded with big names outside of the main event, but 2 million PPV buys still seems like a stretch.
Cyborg has not lost a fight since her debut in 2005, and she has been dominant in the Octagon like Rousey. Cyborg typically finishes opponents with knees and punches, while Rousey has mastered the armbar submission.
Cyborg, who was popped for using steroids before a fight in 2011, currently fights at 145 pounds. She would have to get down to 135 to face Rousey, but White said he is confident Cyborg can make that weight by later this year.
Rousey has been very critical of Cyborg in the past. She once referred to Cyborg as an “it,” and that’s not even the worst thing Rousey has said about the former Strikeforce champion. While 2 million buys seems like a reach, Rousey-Cyborg is certainly a fight people want to see.
