Cris Cyborg breaks down UFC 208’s Germaine de Randamie vs. Holly Holm fight

Cris Cybrog was at the Barclay’s Center for last night’s UFC 208 pay-per-view event in Brooklyn but she was not involved in the first-ever UFC women’s featherweight title fight.

Instead, Cyborg watched from the sidelines as Germaine de Randamie outpointed Holly Holm on route to a unanimous decision victory (48-47 x3).

The UFC had originally wanted Cris Cyborg to participate at UFC 208, but Cris opted to take some time off after a brutal weight cut which occurred this past September.

Then in December, Cyborg failed an out-of-competition drug test which could potentially put her on the shelf for a full 12 months.

Recently, UFC President Dana White stated that Cyborg’s drug test situation was “looking good” and that the feared women’s striker could potentially return to the octagon this summer.

Cyborg spoke to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto about the Holm vs. de Randamie fight stating the following:

“I thought it would be a tough fight for Holly. Germaine, I know her game. I was thinking Holly could beat her, but only if she wrestles — and I really didn’t know if she could wrestle because she hasn’t shown that part of her game. There were no surprises, really. I thought Holly could win, but it was guaranteed to be a tough fight.”

Cyborg also discussed the late strikes that Germaine hit Holly with following rounds two and three:

“At first, I didn’t even notice it was after the bell. I saw a lot of people say it. Holly did fall from that punch. It could have changed the result of the fight. It’s a knockdown, you know? If de Randamie did it after the bell, I don’t think that’s cool. I don’t respect it. But I’d have to watch it again. At the time, I thought it happened at the same time as the bell. I don’t think she threw the punch to be mean, I think she was angry. It was right after Holly had kicked her in the head and maybe she couldn’t control herself.”

She continued:

“I think Holly threw more punches but she did not touch de Randamie too much. De Randamie throws less punches but you can see from Holly’s face she got hit more. And she was trying to grapple, because she felt de Randamie’s power in the standup. I thought de Randamie won the fight, yes.”