Cris Cyborg could soon be facing a familiar foe.
Bellator president Scott Coker confirmed Friday night that the promotion is targeting a featherweight title rematch between Cyborg and Sinead Kavanagh following Kavanagh’s gritty decision win over Leah McCourt at Bellator 275.
Bellator announced the rematch on the broadcast for a yet-to-be-determined date, however that was before promotion officials considered the status of Kavanagh, who appeared to injure her left knee late in the second round of her win over McCourt.
“We announced the fight, but I talked to [coach] John [Kavanagh] and I said, ‘Look, let’s see how the injury comes out.’ But she will be next in line, and if she’s willing to do it and able to do it, and physically able to do it, then we’ll put it together,” Coker said at Bellator 275’s post-fight press conference. It’s likely to take place in America, to be fair, but it is possible that it will extend to the next time we return [to Ireland].. But we would love to put that fight together if she’s able to do it.”
Kavanagh (8-5) and Cyborg (25-2, 1 NC) just fought this past November, with Cyborg winning via 92-second knockout in a dominant showing at Bellator 271 to record the third defense of her Bellator featherweight title.
Despite that result, however, promotion officials appear to have their eyes locked on a rematch between the two 145-pounders. Coker stated that more information should soon be available.
“[We’ll do it] Before the end of this year, for certain,” he stated. “We have a couple dates here and we’ll figure out the schedule, but I think some time in the fall.
” We should wait and see if she is seriously hurt or not, then we will offer her the title fight. John will be contacted about this and we can discuss it if they agree to it. But if she’s injured and she needs to get surgery, if she hurt her knee real bad, I’m not sure. It will likely take 3-4 days, and they’ll then let you know .”
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Coker addressed several other subjects in his post-fight press conference as well, including the potential return of Dillon Danis, the jiu-jitsu specialist who hasn’t fought since 2019.
A quick overview of these comments is available below.
On Dillon Danis: “He’s been texting me all weekend and saying he wants to get back in, he’s ready to get back in. As soon as I return home I will call Dillon Danis and we’ll see if there’s anything we can do to help him. But it’s going to be up to him. He’s going to have to really want it. He’s going to [have to] train and get in there.”
“Listen, when we signed Dillon, it was about being a high-level jiu-jitsu master, getting to the point where he could become a complete MMA fighter. And I thought we were along the way, then he started getting injured and things got in the way. But if he’s ready to go, we’re ready to go.”
On talks to sign free agent Kayla Harrison: “You know what? That’s a dialogue that I believe is ongoing between her camp and my guys. Ali [Abdelaziz], a great manager/agent, is a true professional and will drive a lot. Let’s hope he does what he says, I am sure. … I don’t do [guessing] percentages.”
On Gegard Mousasi’s future: “We’re going to fight him a lot. Gegard is going to fight, I think — I bet you, the way he’s looking — probably a minimum of three times this year.”
On returning to Ireland: “The atmosphere here is unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and you guys know how special it is. You guys have seen all the fights. It’s amazing. We will definitely be returning, but we would love our second home. Bellator should be brought back to Bellator at least two times a year .”
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