Cris Cyborg reacts to Ronda Rousey signing with WWE, not discussing UFC losses

The possibility of Ronda Rousey signing with WWE as a full-time wrestler was rumored for quite some time, and the official announcement made Sunday night didn’t surprise her longtime rival Cris Cyborg.

Rousey became a megastar inside the Octagon a little over than four years ago, defeating six opponents between 2013 and 2015. However, she hasn’t been the same since suffering her first professional loss to Holly Holm.

“Rowdy” attempted to return again Amanda Nunes in Dec. 2016, who already held the 135-pound belt at the time, but lost via knockout in just 48 seconds.

“I believe that she will be happy in WWE, and it’s completely different from the reality of MMA,” Cyborg told MMA Fighting. “For an example, wins and losses are decided before the shows.”

Rousey will “devote 100 percent of my time to wrestling right now”, but didn’t announce whether or not she is retired from MMA. Asked about her losses to Holm and Nunes in an interview with ESPN, the new WWE star said she would “rather not” discuss it.

“I think it’s normal,” Cyborg said of Rousey not talking about her last UFC fights. “In reality, we can only talk about things that we already overcame in our minds. She hasn’t overcome her MMA losses yet, even in another stage of her career. Sometimes people need professional help to get over it.”

Cyborg, who had been considered a potential superfight for Rousey for years, currently holds the UFC featherweight championship. Her next title defend is yet to be defined.

“My focus is to fight someone in my division because I hope it grows,” Cyborg said, “but like I said, I’ve accepted to fight Amanda (at UFC 226 on July 7), if she wants that so much. Now my manager is negotiating the terms so this fight happens.”