Cyborg Justino Says Joanna Jedrzejczyk is a UFC Marketing Triumph

Cyborg Justino spoke with MMA Fighting for a new interview. Some highlights are below:

On Joanna Jedrzejczyk: “Joanna is a great athlete and an example of what the UFC machine can do in terms of promotion and marketing. Of my last five fights, three were on Fight Pass. Joanna fought once on Fight Pass, was on the TV show Ultimate Fighter, and she normally fights as co-main event under fighters like (Conor) McGregor and Ronda (Rousey). You can do a lot of marketing over any athlete, but I’m the only athlete, men or women, that finished 90 percent of her fights by knockout.”

On the best MMA fighter of all-time: “Who’s the best MMA fighter of all times, I always left that for fans to decide. Media can influence some fans, but the truth always appears, as it did with the American hero Ronda Rousey.”

On her UFC run: “My UFC debut was a year ago, but, in reality, I’ve already fought five fights on my UFC contract. If the UFC would’ve given me my belt just like they did with Ronda Rousey, I would have broken the record of title defenses already. I’m undefeated for 10 years and I’m a world champion, to take this title someone has to defeat me.”

On her next fight: “My next step is to stay focused, training to finish my contract with the UFC. After that, I’ll know what my next steps will be. (…) I want to finish my contract. Whoever they put in front of me, I’ll fight. I’d like to fight someone who’s ranked in my weight division, someone like Megan Anderson, but there’s no ranking anymore. To come off a win doesn’t mean you will get the opportunity to fight for the belt.”

On a fight with Cat Zingano: “Cat Zingano is a great athlete, she fought at 125, went to 135, (but) her last win was in 2014. Let’s go, I don’t pick opponents. Whoever comes.”

On her UFC future: “I’d like to stay in the UFC, but working together. I believe I deserve to be respected as an athlete because I’m a pioneer in this sport.”