Most folks in the mixed martial arts (MMA) community are still getting used to having women compete -- and dominate -- under the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) banner. Probably not an outrageous assumption, since it wasn't that long ago that UFC President Dana White vowed to keep his promotion female unfriendly.
Heck, it's only been a little over two years since Ronda Rousey debuted at UFC 157 (and did this).
Now that it's "Rowdy's" world (and we just live in it), fight fans have been clamoring to see the women's bantamweight champion square off against the one female combatant who may give her pause, former Strikeforce featherweight titleholder Cristiane Justino.
But according to UFC color commentator Joe Rogan (via MMA Fighting), that might be a bad idea.
"Let's say we know for sure, because we don't know anything for sure, but let's say for sure Ronda is not juicing. Let's say we also know for sure that Cyborg might be on something. That she might be on something to make 145 [pounds]. Then, are you okay with it? Are you okay with it if they both fight at 145 and one person is naturally bigger and might be on something? This is my question: Do you have a different opinion about this with women than you do with men? Here's a perfect example. Chris Weidman, a dominant champ just like Ronda, if he was going to fight Vitor Belfort and we knew that Vitor might be on TRT, I still wouldn't have a problem with it. I don't think Weidman would have a problem with it, either. I think Weidman would be like, 'I'm still going to fuck this guy up.' That's the point, it's a different fight. Vitor off the shit or on the shit. If [Cyborg's] capable of doing something that's not natural to stay at 145 or get up higher than 145 into the 170's, then how do you feel about the fight? Then it becomes a different fight. What if Ronda loses and then Cyborg tests positive? This is the sexist in me. I have more of an issue with it, for some reason, with women. I'm not comfortable with it. What I'm saying is I'm not even comfortable with my opinions on it. Why do I have a different opinion if it's women and the woman was on something? I don't know why."
Rousey previously competed at 145 pounds, but eventually dropped down to pursue the bantamweight belt.
Since then, the Strikeforce promotion has been put out to pasture and Justino -- who failed a steroids test in 2012 -- has continued to ply her trade at featherweight. Unfortunately, the only big-money fight available to her (sorry, Invicta) is the 135-pound showdown against Rousey.
A fight she would take "tomorrow" ... whether Rogan likes it or not.
Watch the MMA Hour live right now
Get the latest gear
