Why has former Strikeforce Featherweight Champion Cristiane Justino been so dominant?
Because she has been able to overcome "basic" mistakes she makes during a fight, which includes a "horrendous" ground game, because she is so strong. That's according to the scouting report from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey.
Who is probably just as strong as Justino, even if she doesn't look it.
Rousey (10-0) was on hand in Brazil to dish the dirt on her fighting future, which includes her recent surgery and return to the gym. As for who her next opponent might be, that's still up in the air (we think), but she hasn't ruled out a potential "Cyborg" fight (via MMA Fighting).
"I would fight her, but 24 hours after the announcement of out-of-competition drug testing, she asked to be released from the UFC. I'm under contract with the UFC, I can't leave. She can come back whenever she wants, I'm here. She was fighting, it was a while ago, and she just got dropped five times in a match. And really, to be honest, I haven't been really too impressed with her actual skill set. It's only her strength that she draws off. If you remember when she fought Gina (Carano), she pulled her into mount two different times. Those are very grievous technical mistakes. The mistakes that she makes technically are absolutely terrible and basic. The only reason why she gets away with it is because of her strength, and people don't realize how strong I actually am. Ask the girls that I've fought. They weren't expecting this. Because I don't look like it, it doesn't mean I don't have it. She doesn't have any feeling in her punches, she pushes her punches. She can't knock people out with one punch, she just overwhelms them. My pace, nobody can overwhelm me. And the way that she is on the ground, it's absolute horrendous. And her distance is absolute horrendous. The only thing that she has is pace and power, and I have pace, precision and power. The reason why people dope is because they lack self-confidence. The reason why she was using steroids is because that girl does not believe that the best that she has is good enough, and that will always be there in her mind. And you know what, she's right. The best that she has isn't good enough, even on drugs."
Ouch.
Justino tested positive for steroids back in 2012, an ugly blemish on her otherwise impressive mixed martial arts (MMA) record. The Brazilian recently hooked up with the gals at Invicta FC and is expected to make her first cut to bantamweight this December.
And if all goes well, an Octagon debut may looming for early 2015.