Cris Cyborg dangerous heading into UFC 222
STREAKING Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg makes her Octagon return on Sunday (Manila time) in “UFC 222” in Las Vegas where she will stake her title against UFC-debuting Yana Kunitskaya of Russia.
Coming off her successful defense against former UFC champion Holly Holm last December by way of unanimous decision, Cyborg, 32, treks back to fight with her all- conquering mind-set that has made her one of the best in the mixed martial arts business and very much dangerous.
“Cris Cyborg definitely is the odds-on favorite heading to this fight. And what’s scarier is that she remains hungry to prove that she’s one of the best female fighters, if not the best. In her fight against Holly Holm, Cyborg showed her patience and adjusted against a strategic fighter like Holm. This goes to show that even with the belt around her waist, she remains a student of the game,” said local combat sports analyst Mike Miguel of RealFight.
ph when asked by BusinessWorld for his thoughts.
Including her win over Ms. Holm, the former UFC women’s bantamweight champ, Cyborg ( 19- 1) has won nine straight fights, four in the UFC, with no signs of slowing down.
While the odds are stacked against her, Ms. Kunitskaya, 28, is not to be ruled out outright for the type of skills set that she has, Mr. Miguel said.
“In boxing, everyone with two hands has a fighting chance, how much more in MMA where you got knees, feet and elbows. The thing is how you would utilize those against a fighter like Cyborg. Fortunately for Kunitskaya, her teammate Holm showed some aspects of Cyborg’s game which she could capitalize on,” the analyst said.
“What’s important heading to this fight for the Russian is on the mental side first and foremost. Having the same physical tools and skills set as Holm, who’s pushed the champ to five rounds, she needs to believe that she can beat her. Strategy-wise, I believe stopping Cyborg from bull-rushing as well as how she can utilize angles to launch her attacks would be key for her to have a chance in this fight,” added Mr. Miguel.
Ms. Kunitskaya ( 10- 3), who paraded her wares at Invicta FC prior to coming to the UFC, won in her last fight in August 2017 by way of unanimous decision.
Serving as co- main event for UFC 222 set at T-Mobile Arena, meanwhile, is the featherweight battle between Frankie “The Answer” Edgar (# 2) and Brian “T- City” Ortega (# 3). Winner of this fight could set up a title showdown with reigning UFC champion Max “Blessed” Holloway.
Mr. Edgar ( 22- 5-1) is riding a two- fight winning streak, the latest of which came over Yair Rodriguez in May last year by way of second-round technical knockout due to doctor stoppage.
Mr. Ortega (13-0), for his part, has been undefeated in his pro MMA career and beat Cub Swanson by submission ( guillotine choke) in the second round in his last fight in December.
Other fights in the main card are bantamweight Sean “Sugar” O’Malley versus Andre “The Asian Sensation” Soukhamthath, heavyweight Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve (# 10) against Andrei “The Pit Bull” Arlovski (# 12), and women’s bantamweight Cat “Alpha” Zingano (#6) versus Ketlen “Fenomeno” Vieira (# 5).
UFC 222: Cyborg vs. Kunitskaya will be shown live on Sunday, beginning at 11 a.m. over Hyper Ch. 91 in SD or 261 in HD on Cignal TV. Encore telecast is at 7 p.m. on the same day.
In the Philippines, Cignal TV, the country’s foremost directto-home (DTH) company, is the home of the UFC after the two groups agreed to an extensive deal that will see the UFC beamed on various platforms. —