The Ultimate Fighting Championship and Cristiane Justino circled each other for years, unable to figure out how to deal with one another. Fighting in the UFC against Ronda Rousey was the obvious goal for “Cyborg.” However, she did think she could make 135 pounds, and there were also issues involving money. On the UFC’s end, there was obvious marketability to “Cyborg” but little desire to create a 145-pound division and skepticism about whether Justino would move the needle as much as her management thought she would.
The decision to give “Cyborg” a UFC contract while having her continue to fight in Invicta Fighting Championships essentially allowed both sides to defer on any long-term decision.