Cris Cyborg Says She Would Beat Ronda Rousey ‘Really Bad’

Cris Cyborg has once again spoken about a potential fight with Ronda Rousey, reigniting one of the most talked-about fantasy matchups in women’s MMA history. The PFL featherweight champion believes she would have the upper hand if the two legends finally shared the cage.

Cyborg and Rousey were among the biggest names in women’s MMA during the sport’s rapid rise in popularity. Despite years of interest and verbal exchanges surrounding a possible fight, the matchup never materialized while both were competing regularly.

Cris Cyborg says she is still open to fighting Ronda Rousey

Cyborg recently addressed the possibility of facing Rousey during an interview with Home of the Fight. The Brazilian said she has remained willing to compete against Rousey for years and suggested that the matchup was never seriously pursued by the former UFC champion’s side.

“15 years, I have said I am in for this fight. It’s another side, running so fast, they don’t want to make it happen,” Cyborg said.

The PFL champion also referenced Rousey’s recent return to MMA competition. Rousey came out of retirement to headline the first MVP MMA event, where she faced Gina Carano after a lengthy absence from the sport.

Cyborg said she would still consider the matchup if it were part of an MVP event, keeping alive the possibility of the two former champions finally meeting.

Cyborg claims Rousey used their rivalry for promotion

The rivalry between Cyborg and Rousey was frequently discussed during the peak years of both fighters’ careers. However, Cyborg believes Rousey benefited from the rivalry without ever seriously intending to make the fight happen.

“Her idea was never to make the fight happen. She just used me for promoting herself at the time. Smart, it’s smart,” Cyborg said.

The claim adds another chapter to the longstanding tension between the two former champions. A fight between them was considered one of the biggest possible matchups in women’s MMA, but differences in circumstances and career trajectories prevented it from taking place.

Cris Cyborg believes she would dominate Ronda Rousey

Cyborg was particularly confident when discussing how she believes a fight would unfold today. The Brazilian argued that her continued activity and experience have made her an even better fighter than she was during the period when the matchup was first discussed.

“I could beat her really bad at the moment now. I am a better fighter today than before,” Cyborg said.

That confidence comes from Cyborg’s continued success across combat sports. She has remained active while collecting championship achievements in multiple promotions and disciplines.

Cyborg is also the only woman to have won MMA titles across five different promotions, underlining her status as one of the most accomplished fighters in women’s combat sports.

Ronda Rousey appears uninterested in another MMA comeback

Despite Cyborg’s willingness to compete, Rousey’s recent comments suggest that another MMA fight is unlikely. The former UFC and WWE champion returned to MMA at MVP MMA 1 and secured a victory over Gina Carano in just 17 seconds.

Following the fight, Rousey praised Carano and expressed gratitude toward her longtime rival after the bout.

“She’s my f****** hero. Thank you for everything, and thank you for bringing me back home,” Rousey said.

When journalist Ariel Helwani asked whether the enthusiastic crowd had changed her mind about competing again, Rousey indicated that she was satisfied with how her comeback ended.

“There’s no way I could’ve ended it better than this. I wanna have some more babies, and I gotta get cooking,” Rousey said.

Will Cris Cyborg vs Ronda Rousey ever happen?

For years, Cyborg vs Rousey represented one of the most intriguing hypothetical fights in women’s MMA. Both fighters became champions, major stars and influential figures during the development of women’s combat sports.

However, with Cyborg still competing and Rousey appearing content with her latest retirement, the chances of the matchup finally happening remain uncertain.

Cyborg’s latest comments show that she has not completely closed the door. Rousey’s current priorities, however, appear to be focused away from another MMA career.

For now, the long-awaited Cyborg-Rousey fight remains a fantasy matchup, with Cyborg continuing to insist that she would have the tools to dominate her former rival inside the cage.