Cris Cyborg has collected a championship in just about every major promotion – except ONE.
Cyborg (28-2), a former UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce, and Invicta FC champion, claimed the PFL superfights women’s featherweight title when she defeated Larissa Pacheco in October. Could she add a sixth belt under the ONE Championship banner? Vice president Rich Franklin thinks the promotion would certainly entertain that idea.
“I think this is a Chatri (Sityodtong) conversation. Chatri and Matt Hume, because Matt Hume is head of competition, but I think that’s definitely a conversation that they would at least be interested in having,” Franklin told MMA Junkie Radio. “It’s not one of those things where it’s like, ‘No, we’re not interested in that.’ That’s something that would for sure intrigue them,
“And I say that because as a fan, I would personally be intrigued. If I was outside this organization, I would be willing to watch and say, ‘Oh, can Cyborg capture … she’s making her way up the ranks in ONE Championship.’ I would be willing to watch that as a fan. So, I think that’s something that they would definitely be open to having a conversation about.”
However, in MMA, ONE Championship doesn’t currently have a women’s featherweight division for Cyborg to compete in. Cyborg has predominantly competed at 145 pounds throughout her career and holds notable wins over Gina Carano, Holly Holm, Julia Budd, Cat Zingano, and Pacheco.