This coming Saturday, the UFC will wrap up the current year with a series of title bouts set to take place at The Forum in Los Angeles. Among these matches, former titleholder Jon Jones will be vying to recapture his belt in a showdown against Alexander Gustafsson. Following that, the reigning female champions Cris Cyborg Justino and Amanda Nunes will clash for the 145-pound featherweight title. This duel marks the final showdown of 2018 and promises to be an intriguing spectacle at UFC 232.
Examining the dynamic between Cyborg and the UFC, current indications suggest a positive outlook with room for further improvement. Justino recently remarked that despite their past rivalry, they are now considered allies. The fact that she currently holds the UFC belt may have altered the course of their relationship.
The relationship between the UFC and Justino appears to be on solid ground. Noteworthy events include Justino’s temporary shift to the 135-pound weight class in 2015 and 2016 to potentially face the renowned Ronda Rousey. Subsequently, in 2017, the UFC introduced a new 145-pound weight category specifically tailored for Justino’s success, leading to a high-profile title defense against Holly Holm.
This weekend marks Justino’s final fight under her current UFC contract. Should the UFC’s division remain unchanged, she has hinted at a possible transition to professional boxing. Justino expressed her desire to see her aspiration come to fruition: the establishment of a genuine division. While she presently prefers to remain at 145, she envisions growth and development for the division regardless of her own future involvement.
