Bellator featherweight champion Cris Cyborg dismissed accusations of bullying from challenger Cat Zingano, claiming the purchase of a website URL in Zingano’s name was part of promotion for their Bellator 300 title fight and she had no problem with her opponent.
Cris Cyborg, the Bellator featherweight champion, has responded to claims by her next title challenger, Cat Zingano, that she is promoting their Bellator 300 title fight in the wrong way. During an interview on The MMA Hour, Cyborg defended her actions, especially over buying website URLs that bear Zingano’s name to promote herself. The champion clarified that she does not consider this as bullying, and stressed that buying URLs is a common business practice. After the fight, Cyborg assures that Zingano can acquire her website, dispelling notions of bullying and implying there’s no personal animosity on her part.
The circumstances leading up to the featherweight title fight have been far from normal. When Zingano signed with Bellator, she became one of the top contenders to face Cyborg. Despite this, it took four years to set a date for the bout, for which Cyborg has put much of the blame on Zingano’s delay: “When you call out people, you have to be ready to fight,” she stated. Cyborg adds that Zingano tried to promote the fight negatively through nicknames and doping accusations.
Zingano’s insistence on drug testing of Cyborg stems from an incident in 2012, when Cyborg tested positive for steroid metabolites following a title defense. At the time, Cyborg claimed she had been given a weight-loss supplement containing the banned substances by a coach. However, after joining UFC in 2015, Cyborg fully participated in the organization’s anti-doping program. Despite being flagged for a different banned substance in 2016, she later received a retroactive exemption and was cleared of wrongdoing. In defense, Cyborg reiterated her record of years followed of clean testing in UFC’s program and added that any concerns from Zingano have been addressed by Bellator’s own testing program implemented out of competition.
The unexpected drug test was coordinated by Michael Mazzulli, the executive director of the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation and president of the Association of Boxing Commissions. It was confirmed that both fighters passed the random tests. Cyborg, who is currently unlicensed as a fighter, willingly agreed to any further testing, stating: “You can come anytime and test me.” Regarding her performance, she boasts a strong record since her two previous losses, holding four consecutive defenses of her Bellator title. Her contender, Zingano, has earned her shot at the title through a string of four victories. According to Cyborg, Zingano’s commendable record itself promotes the upcoming bout in a respectful manner.