Cris Cyborg: “Amanda Nunes is a traitor for allowing Colby Covington’s “filthy animals” comment
We are only three months away until one of the biggest super fights in women’s mixed martial arts history happens as Cris Cyborg faces Amanda Nunes for the UFC women’s featherweight title at UFC 232.
The stakes in this fight will be unquestionably high, especially for Cyborg, not only because she will be defending her championship against the woman that many in the sport claim to be her equal in Nunes, it could also determine just who is the greatest female MMA fighter of all time.
But in Cyborg’s mind, this fight is personal, as she sees this as not about fighting for accolades and recognition, this is more about defending the honor and pride of her home country of Brazil.
Recently in the past, American Top Team star and former UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington was the target of controversy for his cruel insults Brazil, which saw him infamously call them filthy animals after his victory over fellow Brazilian Demian Maia last year at UFC Sao Paulo.
Heated over the disrespectful comments made by Covington, Cyborg has taken offense, and feels that Nunes, a fellow Brazilian herself, has become a traitor for continuing to train with Covington.
“’Creonte’ is a Brazilian word that means traitor,” Cyborg told FanSided recently. “I think it’s embarrassing that the UFC made Amanda the first female Brazilian champion and instead of representing Brazil when she fights, she calls herself American Top Team. She disrespects Brazilian MMA fans every time she walks into the cage as a part of American Top Team.”
“This is the same gym as Colby Covington. He disrespected Brazil so badly that the UFC was worried they didn’t have enough security to keep him safe and had to move his fight against [Rafael dos Anjos] to the USA instead of Brazil. Yet Nunes goes into the gym every day to train alongside Colby Covington and even shares the same coaches. Where I’m from in Brazil this would never happen. Imagine Chael Sonnen walking into Chute Boxe and training with Wanderlei Silva, Anderson Silva, or any of the coaches. Do you think they would have let him train after all the things he said about Brazil? No. They would have defended Brazil’s honor. Amanda doesn’t have that same respect for Brazil.”
Cyborg reiterated her statement on Twitter stating that though she has an American citizenship, she would never stop being a Brazilian and would not tolerate any kind of disrespect from a teammate.
I didn’t stop becoming a Brazilian when I got My American citizenship 😂😂 just like I wouldn’t allow my teammates to disrespect my country by calling it a dump and full of filthy animals.
— CyborgVNunes #UFC232 (@criscyborg) September 18, 2018
Nunes actions of betrayal, has apparently lit a major fire in Cyborg, who expressed the reason why she was hesitant to fight Nunes when she challenged her last year, was simply because she wanted Brazilian champions to stick by each other.
But now that Cyborg realizes Nunes lack of loyalty for her country, she plans on teaching her a hard lesson once they step inside the Octagon at UFC 232.
“When she called me out last year at first I didn’t want to fight her,” Cyborg continued. “I wanted to see all the women divisions run by the Brazilians. Myself, Amanda, [Jessica] Andrade, we could have all been champions and I thought it would bring pride back to all of Brazil. But Nunes is from a Team of ‘Creontes.’ At American Top Team it is normal for teammates to fight each other. She called me out last year but then wanted a year before we can fight. When I fight her Dec. 29 it will be for everyone in Brazil, and it will be to teach Nunes a lesson about respect.”
