Cyborg expected De Randamie, Holm to put off fighting her

Cris Cyborg wasn't scouting the UFC 208 main event for a future opponent.

Saturday saw the UFC crown its first-ever women's 145-pound champion when Germaine de Randamie won a unanimous decision over Holly Holm. Should Cyborg receive a favorable verdict in her current case with the USADA, she is presumably the No. 1 contender for the new belt, having reigned over that division in various promotions for the better part of the last decade.

However, de Randamie is looking to take time off for surgery, which could keep her out of a bout with Cyborg for the time being. Cyborg isn't disappointed, claiming she doubted either de Randamie or Holm would volunteer to face her.

"That was something me and my team were already expecting to happen," Cyborg said, according to a translation from Lucas Rezende of Bloody Elbow. "Whoever won that title was going to retire or anything else that would make them keep the title for as long as possible. We were prepared for that.

"As soon as they said I was the next challenger, Germaine started talking about having to have surgery on her hand. That changes nothing, I'm the world champion whether or not I fight for the belt."

Cyborg currently holds the Invicta FC featherweight title and also reigned as the Strikeforce champion at 145 pounds from 2009-11. Following UFC 208, she said that if de Randamie did not step up, she would like to welcome Invicta interim champion Megan Anderson to the Octagon instead.