Showdown Joe: Cyborg vs. Holm Set for UFC 219?
It looks like the much anticipated featherweight title fight between champion Cyborg Santos vs. Holly Holm bout has been agreed upon. Judging by their recent exchange on Instagram, the two have agreed to fight at UFC 219, scheduled for December 30th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
And the chirping between both parties has officially begun, albeit somewhat mild at the moment.
Holm recently posted a video on her Instagram page stating “let’s be real for a minute”, regarding the USADA testing both fighters have undergone.
The former bantamweight champ stated “she said she’s being tested by USADA and wants me to tested just as much and she should have probably looked at their public records on their USADA webpage.”
‘The Preacher’s’ daughter added two screen captures to her post, taken from the USADA website, showcasing she has been tested 9 times, in comparison to Cyborg’s 8.
Cyborg, or perhaps representatives from her camp posted the following comment on Holm’s post:
“@hollyholm I respect you. I am not concerned about the tests you have ALREADY taken…I am talking about tests from NOW UNTIL Dec 30th. we should both agree to be tested the exact same amount of times between today and our fight Dec 30th. This allows us to both continue to prove we compete clean. Your coach Winklejohn initially brought up these concerns in his interviews trying to discredit me…but The facts are @jacksonwink_mma has had more high level fighters suspended for doping violations than any other gym in MMA…It wasn't an attack on you, but if USADA interrupts my training schedule 15 times for "random tests" then I want them to do the same number of random tests during the period of now until our fight dec 30th with you as well. This gives us both the opportunity to prove that despite all the gossip and accusations that we are both competing clean. —- see you #ufc219 god bless! I'm very thankful you've accepted this fight.”
While the UFC has yet to make an official announcement of the bout, Cyborg’s post all but confirms the two women will square off at the promotion’s year end show.
While much more ‘talk’ will likely come from the two athletes, rest assured, it could get ugly, as is evidenced by Holm stating “In the meantime, I’ll just spend my time training and she can spend her time complaining, making false accusations.”
It remains to be seen if the bout will be the event’s headliner or be given co-main event status instead. Either way, it looks like we are set for an epic featherweight scrap later this year.
