Interview: UFC featherweight champion Cris Cyborg talks ahead of her bout against Holly Holm

While mixed martial arts has always been a sport that only a select few enter into, it will rarely strike fear into the hearts of fans in a literal sense. When it comes to Cris Cyborg, however, her presence alone is enough to send shivers down the spine of any male or female on the face of this planet.

With an 18-1 record to go alongside a plethora of championship victories, it’s difficult to dispute Cyborg’s credentials when discussing who the greatest female fighters of all time are. After all, with Ronda Rousey’s stock falling so dramatically, the pathway has been cleared for someone like Cris to come in and dominate the women’s MMA landscape.

“I keep training hard and I train to win obviously, she has a different style to other women I’ve fought. Each time I challenge myself in every fight.”

Of course, she’ll need to keep backing up the hype, which is exactly what she’ll be aiming to do this Saturday when she takes on Holly Holm at UFC 219. We were recently given the chance to join the conference call for this event, which allowed us to take a ninety-second trip inside the mind of the 32-year-old.

From anyone’s perspective, it’s clear to us that she’s been preparing for this moment for quite some time, with her rise up through the ranks of Invicta and Strikeforce all leading towards a moment like this. Sure, she would’ve liked to have faced off against Ronda at some point, but taking on the woman who dethroned her will be equally as satisfying for the Brazilian.

There’s an argument to be made that Cyborg has done everything she needs to do in this sport, and a victory over Holly would probably leave many to wonder whether or not she should consider retirement.

“I feel very thankful for this opportunity to fight at the end of the year. It’s a special time to be with family, and I’m going to focus on my training while my family are in Brazil. But I feel very blessed.”

But then again, the thought of one day surpassing her longtime rival, Rousey, will eat away at her – and that kind of drive is something that has made Cris into the global superstar that we all see before us today.

Contrary to popular belief, there’s no good guy and no bad guy in this fight. This isn’t pro wrestling and the heels and babyfaces dynamic doesn't work in this environment, because in reality, Cyborg is just the favourite. Nothing more, nothing less.

She’s a woman who gets down to business and is able to impose her presence with great effectiveness, which is the kind of thing we’re expecting to see in Las Vegas at UFC 219.