Miesha Tate 'wouldn't be against' fighting Cris Cyborg

It’s no secret that the UFC is struggling to find credible opponents for Cris “Cyborg” Justino. The No. 15 ranked pound-for-pound fighter has destroyed her last two opponents, Lina Lansberg and Leslie Smith, with little trouble and fans have been clamoring for her to face one of the more recognizable names in women’s MMA.

Although a Ronda Rousey fight has been the women’s MMA equivalent to Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao, it doesn’t seem close to coming to fruition anytime soon. But while so many other women don’t appear to be too interested in facing the Invicta 145-pound champion, a former UFC women’s bantamweight champ says that she certainly wouldn’t mind stepping up to face the powerful Brazilian.

Miesha Tate appeared on “The MMA Hour” to talk about her UFC 205 showdown with Raquel Pennington but made it clear that she’d be more than willing to fight Cyborg at a catchweight of 140 pounds if the opportunity presented itself.

“When I was the champ the UFC told me that they would not do a catchweight fight,” Tate said. She recently lost her title to Amanda Nunes at UFC 200 back in July. “But now that I’m not the champ I could fight her at 140. I wouldn’t be against it.”

Although she joked that a fight with Cyborg may “take a couple of years off” her life, the former UFC and Strikeforce champion sees the fight as a high-risk, high-reward prospect that could only enhance her career.

“I have nothing to lose in that fight,” Tate said. “I’d be fighting a girl that is such a powerhouse and just crushing girls. If I went in there and beat her or if I gave her a solid run for her money, it says a lot. I wouldn’t be opposed to doing it but it hasn’t been discussed yet.”

Obviously, Tate has her hands full with Pennington on Nov. 12, but is more than willing to explore the possibility of the fight should Cyborg need an opponent.

The mere suggestion is more than can be said for most of the women in the UFC.