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Manager: 'Cyborg' is the 'only money fight' for Holm

Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Cristiane "Cyborg" Justino's big show aspirations are down to a wing and a prayer.

Speaking to Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com, Cyborg's manager George Prajin doesn't think his client will get a chance with the UFC, unless something can be worked out with women's bantamweight champion Holly Holm.

"Our only hope is a Hail Mary - a longshot," Prajin said. "It's the UFC seeing value in a Holly Holm versus Cyborg catchweight fight. They have a division to protect. If Holly fights Cris at UFC 200 and gets smashed, it lowers her value as a champion. I'm sure they don't want to do that.

"We still feel Cris is the only money fight out there for Holly besides a Rousey rematch. If Holly beats Miesha Tate (at UFC 196 on March 5) and then Ronda decides she doesn't want to fight or loses to Holly again, the only fight that would make sense for Holly would be Cris.

"But I understand the UFC's position right now. We can't tell them how to run their business. It is what it is."

Prajim has reason to believe that Cyborg is a legitimate threat to Holm having a prolonged title run. The Invicta FC featherweight champion has not lost an MMA fight since 2005 and her last nine wins have all come by knockout.

Holm's camp has expressed an interest in Cyborg, which bodes well for a division that could be out of marquee matchmaking options soon.

"I like Miesha Tate, but after seeing how Holly dominated Ronda, I feel like it's going to be similar on March 5," Prajin said. "If Ronda doesn't come back, are people really going to want to watch Holly dominate the other women of the division? They might watch but they're not going to pay big money for it. We can always keep our fingers crossed."

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