'Cyborg' manager: No doubt who's baddest on planet, wants Rousey at 140 pounds

Cristiane Justino

MELBOURNE, Australia – Moments after Holly Holm’s shocking upset of Ronda Rousey, Cristiane Justino’s manager was pushing for a 140-pound catchweight fight with the deposed champ.

“No doubt who is the baddest on the planet,” George Prajin wrote to MMAjunkie in a text message. “There is no belt on the line – let’s do 140. She has nothing to hide behind now.”

Justino (14-1), meanwhile, tweeted a smiley face in the wake of Holm’s (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) shocking knockout, which came in the second round via head kick in the headliner of UFC 193 at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.

Justino, the Invicta FC featherweight champion, shares a well-documented grudge with Rousey (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC). She and her management have repeatedly pushed for a showdown with the former Olympic judoka, though weight kept the fight from immediately being realized.

On several occasions, UFC President Dana White said Rousey vs. Justino would be made when Justino was able to make 135 pounds, which prompted the featherweight to map out a plan for a division change by shedding pounds and hoping to test the bantamweight waters in Invicta FC.

The anticipation around the match, meanwhile, prompted the UFC to ink a deal with Justino that allowed the promotion to sign her for a fight with Rousey if her weight condition was met.

This week, White gave his strongest indication that a showdown was on the horizon, telling UFC fans during a fan Q&A that Rousey’s next fight was “probably” Justino if the Brazilian could make weight.

Holm’s longtime coach, Mike Winkeljohn, told MMAjunkie he expects the new UFC women’s bantamweight champ to face Rousey in an immediate rematch, and White indicated at the post-event news conference that is the most likely scenario.

For complete coverage of UFC 193, check out the UFC Events section of the site.