Bellator featherweight Cat Zingano wants no stones unturned ahead of a potential title matchup with champion Cris Cyborg.
Zingano is set to face Pam Sorenson this weekend at Bellator 282. A win could assure her the next featherweight title shot against Cyborg after months of beef between the two of them.
Cyborg was notified of a banned substance during a USADA drug test while in the UFC back in 2016. Since then, she’s been accused of being a cheater by Zingano and other fighters.
Zingano accused Cyborg of dodging drug testing just months ago and she’s on the attack once again. During her Bellator 282 pre-fight press conference, Zingano revealed what she wants in order to agree to a matchup with Cyborg if she can get past Sorenson.
“Independent testing for both of us — [an] independent resource, just making sure there are no biases, there’s no people that we know, and just making sure everything is fair,” Zingano said. (h/t MMA Fighting)
Cyborg Doesn’t Care What Zingano Wants
After getting word of Zingano’s comments, Cyborg issued a heated response.
“Cat Zingano 9-0 with wins over Miesha and Nunes,” Cyborg said. “Enters USADA in 2015 and goes 1-4 competing. Now she’s 2-0 after leaving USADA and fighting on YouTube Friday night and thinks I care what she wants.”
Cyborg most recently dismantled Arlene Blencowe via a unanimous decision at Bellator 279. She earned the Bellator title in her second fight with the promotion after a rocky tenure with the UFC, finishing Julia Budd at Bellator 238.
Zingano, another former UFC standout, is looking to earn her first title in a major promotion. She last fought against Olivia Parker at Bellator 256, earning a first-round submission.
Independent drug testing isn’t a fixture of Bellator at present. They rely on state athletic commissions for regulation.
The bad blood continues to ramp up between Cyborg and Zingano, and things could reach a climax if Zingano is able to win this weekend and earn the next title shot.
Do you think Cat Zingano is right to request independent drug testing for a matchup with Cris Cyborg?