UFC featherweight champion Cris "Cyborg" Justino says she still plans to box professionally at some point, even in the wake of a newly signed contract with the UFC.
Justino (18-1) is scheduled to defend her 145-pound title against Holly Holm at UFC 219 on Dec. 30 in Las Vegas. It is arguably the most high-profile matchup to currently be made in any female division.
In addition to that fight, Justino recently agreed to a new deal with the UFC. The deal comes just two months after Justino secured a professional boxing license in California, which she says she still intends to use.
"The UFC knows I'm interested in boxing, and that boxing fans have started asking for fights against [former champion] Layla McCarter and [champion] Cecilia Braekhus," Justino told ESPN.
"I will let my management and the UFC decide when to let those discussions [regarding a boxing debut] become public, however, I will say that over the next 15 months, my team shares the same goals as the UFC." Cris "Cyborg" Justino
"I have a few fights already lined up for the UFC that we will need to focus on, however I got my boxing license because I eventually intend on having a professional boxing fight, and the UFC knows this."
Under the terms of her previous UFC contract, Justino was scheduled to become a free agent in 2018. She strongly considered testing free agency before ultimately signing a deal to keep her in the UFC.
Historically, UFC contracts have prevented athletes from boxing. This summer's boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and UFC star Conor McGregor was a rare exception.
But during a recent public appearance, UFC president Dana White confirmed that he and the UFC are "getting into boxing, 100 percent." Justino declined to specify whether her boxing debut might occur under the new contract.
"I was prepared to fight out my [previous] contract," Justino said. "I want to thank [UFC executive] Hunter Campbell and my manager George Prajin for working so well with one another to get this deal done. I'm excited to finally feel like the Cyborg brand and the UFC are committed to building each other.
"I will let my management and the UFC decide when to let those discussions [regarding a boxing debut] become public, however I will say that over the next 15 months, my team shares the same goals as the UFC."
Justino, who is originally from Brazil and now fights out of Southern California, has had an up-and-down relationship with the UFC. The promotion asked Justino to cut to a 140-pound catchweight in her first two appearances, as it hadn't yet opened a 145-pound weight class.
The company was not happy when Justino declined an offer to fight for its inaugural featherweight title fight earlier this year.
This new deal, though, appears to mark a new chapter in the relationship. And a lucrative end-of-the-year fight against Holm, a former titleholder in MMA and boxing, is a nice way to kick it off.
"I'm predicting a great fight," Justino said. "Fans might be expecting this to look like a boxing or Muay Thai fight, however I'm excited to show my growth as a mixed martial artist and showcase all of my skills. My team keeps joking this is going to be the fight I win by armbar, but I don't focus on the outcome. I am just going to keep training and let the performance be the glory of God."