UFC 214: Cris Cyborg forgives Dana White, ready to finally work together with UFC

Cris Cyborg’s career with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has been a rocky one to say the least.

Sure, she’s won all two of her fights inside the Octagon rather easily, knocking out Leslie Smith at UFC 198, then subsequently doing the same to Lina Lansberg four months later, but her troubled relationship with company president Dana White, USADA troubles and beefs gone too far outside the cage, have been a distraction.

But after White admittedly stated that he handled Cyborg all wrong from the jump, Cris is ready to move on to a friendlier relationship with the powers that be.

“I think people want to watch me in UFC. If I’m in an event, I am going to do my best and my star is going to shine. I want to work together and they (UFC) has showed me they want to work together, too. I hope everything’s going to change,” she said in an interview with MMA Weekly.

According to Cyborg, she recently met new UFC owner Ari Emanuel at an event and received some very encouraging words from him.

“Yes, at an event. He don’t know too much about fighting but he came and shake my hand and he’s a big fan of MMA. He said he wants me in UFC and I’m happy it’s changing.”

If Cris had her way, she wouldn’t have any drama outside of the cage and prefer to have all of her wars inside of it.

“It’s just better for the fighter to go to the cage, do your best there and make an exciting fight for the fans. I don’t want nothing against me, have to fight outside of the cage. you don’t need to say good things about me, just don’t say bad things about me, either. I’m just there to do my job, get my money and go home and be with family. that's it, that's the life for me. No more wars outside of the cage, just inside of it,” she added.

As for her past issues with White, she’s willing to forgive and forget.

“I forgive him. I think everybody do mistakes as I did mistakes in my career, too. It happens, and it’s hard for someone to admit when they did a mistake. I respect his attitude for doing what he did and if it’s going to change I am very happy to work together.”

Cyborg will return to action on July 29, 2017 at UFC 214 when she faces Tonya Evinger for the vacant women’s featherweight strap. The event is expected to feature a Light Heavyweight title fight between division champion Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones, as well as a welterweight title fight between Tyron Woodley and Demian Maia.

To see who else is fighting on the stacked card click here.