Following a lengthy campaign to face each other in the UFC, Megan Anderson and Cris “Cyborg” Justino have received their wish with the promotion today announcing that the pair will indeed meet next month for the UFC women’s featherweight title.
As previously reported by MMA Fighting, the matchup is scheduled for UFC 214 which takes place in Anaheim, CA, on July 29 (July 30 in Australia). The main event will feature the anticipated rematch between former champion Jon Jones and current light heavyweight title holder Daniel Cormier. Anderson vs. Justino is set to occupy the co-main event slot.
After publicly stating her refusal to face Cyborg for her first title defense, the now former featherweight champion Germaine de Randamie has been stripped of the title by the UFC. “The Iron Lady” was crowned the first ever UFC women’s featherweight champion when she outpointed Holly Holm over five rounds back in February. De Randamie has been publicly critical of Cyborg, claiming the Brazilian was “a known cheater”.
July will be a historic month for Australian MMA with UFC middleweight Robert Whittaker also fighting for the interim title against Yoel Romero on July 8. Both Aussies will be vying to become the first UFC champion from Australia.
Anderson (8-2) will go into her UFC debut riding a four fight win streak. The 27 year-old Kansas City based Aussie snatched Invicta’s interim featherweight title when she stopped Charmaine Tweet in January. She was slated to make her first title defense next month against Helena Kolesnyk however that fight has now been scrapped with this new development.
Cyborg (17-1) has had two appearances in the UFC, both taking place at a 140-pound catchweight, picking up consecutive TKO wins against Leslie Smith and Lina Länsberg. The feared Brazilian striker vacated the Invicta FC featherweight title in March to continue her UFC campaign.
