Arguably the biggest what-if rivalry in women’s MMA history continues to rage on between Ronda Rousey and Cris Cyborg – at least from one side of the equation.
During Tuesday’s pre-fight news conference for her Netflix-streamed fight against Gina Carano, Rousey took shots at Cyborg, as she has done many times over the years. Carano brought up that her fight against Cyborg was the first five-minute, five-round fight in women’s MMA, prompting Rousey to add a few scathing words about an opponent who never came to be.
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“And obviously, that was a cheating, roided-up bitch that totally cheated you out of your title that was deservingly yours,” Rousey said. “You’re too nice to say it, so I’m gonna say it: f*ck her, and you’re the best.”
Cyborg replied to Rousey’s message, explaining her drug-testing history in detail. The former UFC champ said she took her one failed test as a career-long lesson, and walked the straight and narrow since. Cyborg also took some not-so-subtle jabs at Rousey, including criticism of how she handled losing at the end of her UFC run.
“I had one failed test for PEDs in my 21 year career,” Cyborg wrote on X (formerly Twitter). 2011. 15 years ago. The sport was very different at that time, and I didn’t even speak English then. I had no idea the pills given to me in Brazil to “help lose weight” were banned for athletes in the USA. I served my penalty. I learned a life lesson. I have been involved in Olympic style testing for over 15 years without any other issues. I have proven I am a clean athlete. I use my own experience to mentor to younger athletes the importance of knowing what you put into your bodies and the dangers of PEDs. 21 years I have been fighting.
“When @RondaRousey hid her face in a pillow…I walked that same experience with dignity and humility something you couldn’t display during your @ufc career and something you’re already highlighting with your @MostVpromotions fight with @ginacarano. One thing I absolutely know is that you will say every mean thing in the world…but you won’t fight me. 🙏🏽 I pray one day you become happy in yourself.”
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In 2011, Cyborg was suspended and fined after a 16-second victory over Hiroko Yamanaka – a result that was overturned to a no contest due to a failed test for stanozolol metabolites. In 2016, Cyborg faced another issue for a potential U.S. Anti-Doping Agency violation. Cyborg explained what happened with that test as well.
“I was in a new testing program called USADA. It’s the same program the Olympics use to catch cheaters,” Cyborg wrote on X. “They flagged a sample for a diuretic which was medically required and provided zero performance enhancing ability. My Dr was unfamiliar with the usada process and had to complete a TUE. USADA issued an official statement that no wrong doing occurred. Usada is hired to catch cheaters and they said everything was legit 😉”
Cyborg and Rousey have exchanged messages across media for years, but the decorated athletes never crossed paths inside the cage to settle their differences. While Rousey was at her peak in the UFC, Cyborg fought in other promotions and at a higher weight class. Despite multiple challenges on both sides, it all amounted to back-and-forth messages, leaving fight fans without an in-competition resolution to what would have been a bona fide superfight during their primes.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Cris Cyborg details drug testing history after Ronda Rousey’s comments
