The contentious relationship between the UFC and Cris “Cyborg” Justino is coming to an immediate end, UFC president Dana White says.
White stated that he is “out of the Cyborg business” in a recent YouTube video, and will waive any contractual matching rights he has for one of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts.
“I’m going to release her from her contract and I will not match any offers [she receives],” White said. “She is free and clear to go to Bellator or any of these other promotions and fight these easy fights she wants. Done. Done deal. I will literally, today, have my lawyer draft a letter to [Justino’s team saying] that she is free and clear.”
That announcement will squash any hopes of a rematch between Justino (21-2) and two-weight champion Amanda Nunes, who defeated Justino back in December for Justino’s 145-pound title in a stunning 51-second knockout.
Justino, 34, has made recent claims of bullying from White, referencing a 2014 incident in which White said Justino looked like “[male fighter] Wanderlei Silva in a dress and heels.”
“I’m suffering bullying,” Justino said this week. “Where is the code that you don’t do this? He is the boss. How does the boss make fun of your athlete? It’s a girl, say she has a penis, she’s a guy. You have to have rules. This is not right. I have a daughter, I have a mom, I have a dad. My daughter had a problem in school already because of this.”