Cris Cyborg wants to test her luck in a different sport.
The Bellator women’s featherweight champion and former UFC, Strikeforce, and Invicta FC titleholder hopes take her talents outside the cage and into the ring in the near future.
Cyborg (23-2 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) is coming off her first Bellator title defense, as she submitted Arlene Blencowe in the second round of their main event contest at Bellator 249 on Thursday night. And following the victory, Cyborg once again expressed interest in trying out professional boxing, preferably sooner than later.
“I’ve been working on a lot of boxing with Virgil Ortiz and it’s my dream to do one boxing fight if I get the opportunity,” Cyborg told reporters at the post-fight press conference. “I know Scott Coker said maybe I can get one fight and I just have to continue training, continue working. If it’s going to be MMA or boxing, I’m just going to be ready.”
When asked about a potential matchup with multiple-time boxing champion Katie Taylor, Cyborg said she liked the idea, but didn’t reveal much.
“I think it’s a great fight,” Cyborg explained. “I can do boxing and she can do MMA fight, you never know.”
It’s uncertain if Cyborg will indeed venture into the boxing world for ner next bout or she’ll continue extending her 15-year legacy in MMA. For now, the 35-year-old is satisfied with the way her career in Bellator is unfolding after recording her first career submission victory.
“I’m very happy, I worked very hard with my team and I worked everything,” Cyborg said. “It’s mixed martial arts and I got my first submission win of my career. Thanks to ‘Cobrinha’ (Cyborg’s jui-jitsu coach) for being with me all the time and working with me.”