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Cris Cyborg released from the UFC: 'We're out of the Cyborg business'

Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC / UFC / Getty

Former UFC women's featherweight champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Justino has been released from the promotion, Dana White said Friday during an interview with ESPN's Laura Senko.

"All this other bullshit that she's putting out there - again, to avoid fighting Amanda Nunes," White said. "Message received. I get it. I'm going to release her from her contract. I will not match any offers."

Cyborg (21-2) defeated Canadian Felicia Spencer by unanimous decision at UFC 240 on July 27 in the last fight of her contract. Following the end of a pact, there is typically an exclusive negotiating period with the UFC prior to free agency. Should terms not be reached, a fighter is then able to field offers from other promotions. White has decided to forego this negotiating period, allowing the 34-year old to immediately become a free agent.

"She is free and clear to go to Bellator or any of these other organizations and fight these easy fights that she wants," White continued. "Done. Done deal. I will literally today have my lawyer draft a letter to her team that she is free and clear to go where ever she wants. We're out of the Cyborg business.”

Cyborg's discontent with the promotion was clear when speaking to theScore earlier this week. She even suggested the UFC had an influence on commentator Joe Rogan's commentary towards Spencer.

"For sure for sure, they work together," Cyborg said. "The commentator has a lot of influence like the UFC have a lot of influence, because they have a lot of media behind it, like Dana White. But you have to be real, you cannot be on people's side because 'I like my favorite fighter so I'm going to help this guy.'"

Cyborg signed with the UFC in March 2015 and went undefeated through her first five fights. After knocking out Tonya Evinger to win the vacant women's featherweight title at UFC 214, she suffered a first-round TKO loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 232 in December. She leaves the UFC with a 6-1 record.

Check out the reaction from theScore's MMA editor James Lynch to the news of Cyborg's release and his thoughts on where she may end up signing next. Subscribe to theScore MMA youtube channel here.

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