Cyborg prefers to defend title vs. natural featherweight over Nunes

Cris Cyborg aims to run a meritocracy, not a dictatorship.

After UFC president Dana White stated he planned to book the featherweight queen to defend her crown against bantamweight titleholder Amanda Nunes, the 32-year-old Cyborg revealed she would much rather take on a challenger who's cut her teeth in her division as opposed to a converted 135-pounder in a statement posted to her website Thursday.

"As a world champion it is important that you face the (No. 1) contender. That is what makes it sport and not entertainment, otherwise what are the girls fighting at 145 (pounds) training to work towards if they know they will never be given a title shot even if they become the best in the world?" Cyborg wrote.

"I have a responsibility to the sport to ensure that when I retire the (featherweight) division continues to exist, and it is because of that I want my next fight to be against a contender from the featherweight division that has fought at 145 (pounds) within the last year."

The female 145-pound class has long been known to be short on talent compared to its lighter counterparts, with all of Cyborg's four UFC opponents having competed primarily at bantamweight. The champ has previously voiced her reluctance to fight a fellow Brazilian champion - a bill Nunes fits - and called to face a career featherweight in Megan Anderson after defending her title against Holly Holm at UFC 219.

However, Anderson - who last fought Charmaine Tweet in the Invicta FC cage a year ago - has yet to be cleared to compete, prompting Cyborg to posit Pam Sorenson, a former King of the Cage champion who recently fought at featherweight under the Invicta FC banner.

If Nunes aims to make a run at her throne, she should call the featherweight division home first, says Cyborg.

"If Megan Anderson is not ready to fight, then the next available contender Pam Sorenson deserves the opportunity. I can continue giving fans superfights, however, in order for this division to grow it is my responsibility to respect the work of all the women fighting at 145 (pounds) and give the top girls a chance at the title once they have earned it.

"If Amanda Nunes truly wants an opportunity at the 145(-pound) belt, a win against any ranked contender in that division would help establish her back in a weight class she left before fighting me."