UFC
IV ban under USADA protocols could negatively affect Invicta Champ Cris "Cyborg" Justino's attempts to make 135 lbs.
Jul 7, 2015 - 5:05:20 PM IV ban under USADA protocols could negatively affect Invicta Champ Cris "Cyborg" Justino's attempts to make 135 lbs.

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Cristiane "Cyborg" Justino is back in action on Thursday, defending her Invicta FC Women's Featherweight Championship at Invicta FC 13. However, while she continues to prepare for that fight, the conversation still inevitably turns to a potential fight with Ronda Rousey.

The longtime vet has repeatedly discussed a potential drop to 135 lbs. to make that fight happen, but there's now another hurdle in the way of making that happen. Under the new drug testing policy being handled by USADA, fighters will no longer be able to re-hydrate via the use of saline IVs starting in October, which could make the process of cutting that drastically an even bigger issue for Justino.

"I want to be healthy," Justino said at a media day for Thursday's event (via MMAFighting.com). "I know fighting and [being] famous, [the] belt, it's for now. At the end of the day, you're getting older, I don't want to be sick. I want to have kids.

"I already have a lot of problems about cutting weight, dieting and a lot of things. It's not healthy what we do. Drop to 135? And be healthy? OK, of course."

Cyborg still argues that the fight with Rousey should happen at a catchweight, and doesn't expect to stay at 135 lbs. even if she manages the drop.

"I think it would be perfect at 140 [lbs.]," she said. "I'll try my best [to make 135]. I'll try 100 percent, I'll try for all my fans to make this fight happen and I know I can sleep [at night] and say I did my 100 percent to make this fight happen.

"I think everybody want to watch this fight," she continued. "I think it's very important for women's MMA. I want to be part of this. The first very important fight was with Gina Carano, and I'm very happy about this. Would I be happy about this fight [with Rousey]? Of course, I want it. I want to finish my career by having a big deal. I fight Ronda Rousey, I fight two big events. I helped grow up women's MMA.

"...You guys cannot kill my division. I'm the 145-pound champ. I don't want to leave my division. If I make 135 easy, my diet coach helps me, why not? I have more girls. I can fight more. I'd be happy."

Penick's Analysis: There haven't been enough viable competitors at 145 lbs., which is why the UFC began with the bantamweight field to begin with. They're not going to bring in featherweight just to give Justino a few fights, and that's why they've been pushing the 135 lb. limit on Justino to make the Rousey fight happen. Now, not being able to use an IV could absolutely affect her ability to hit that mark if she even makes the attempt, but she'll need to find a safe way to get her walking around weight down to begin with. If she can do that, perhaps the cut wouldn't be as severe and dehydrating.