'Cyborg' Justino vacates Invicta FC title, wants to fight UFC champ Germaine de Randamie in July

Here comes “Cyborg” for the UFC women’s featherweight championship.

Cristiane Justino announced in a YouTube video tonight that she has officially vacated her Invicta FC women’s featherweight title in hopes of getting her shot at UFC champion Germaine de Randamie.

“Cyborg” (17-1-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) even knows when and where she’d like the title fight to happen: July 29 at UFC 214 in Anaheim, Calif.

Ever since de Randamie (8-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) defeated Holly Holm last month to win the inaugural title at UFC 208, the champion has been unclear about who she’d like to first defend her title against. De Randamie said she needed time off to undergo hand surgery. But then, irritated by critics of her performance following the controversial decision, she welcomed an immediate rematch with Holm if her doctor cleared her to fight. That news was not received well by Justino.

Holm (10-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) recently was offered a fight at UFC Fight Night 111, which could indicate the promotion’s desire to give “Cyborg” a title shot over a de Randamie-Holm rematch. But Holm’s manager, Lenny Fresquez, told MMAjunkie that she has yet to accept it in hopes of getting an immediate rematch.

The decision for Justino to vacate the Invicta belt was met with a positive reaction from interim champion Megan Anderson.

Justino had been Invicta champion since winning the belt over the recently retired Marloes Coen in July 2013. “Cyborg” had three successful title defenses but has not fought under the Invicta banner since January of 2016.

In the past year, Justino has twice fought in the UFC at a catchweight of 140 pounds before a featherweight division was created. Both of “Cyborg’s” wins came by way of TKO against Leslie Smith and Lina Lansberg.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.