Cris Cyborg (Sporting News)

Cris Cyborg, one of the most dominant female MMA fighters, has been busy. She recently revived a struggling UFC Women’s Featherweight Division by beating Tonya Evinger for the title at UFC 214. She has also been in a Twitter war with WWE superstar Becky Lynch, off the heels of Mayweather v. McGregor. Now, Cyborg (18-1, 1 NC) is looking to step out of the cage and inside a boxing ring.

The former Strikeforce and Invicta Women’s Champion applied for and was granted a boxing license by the CSAC this past week. MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani was the first to report the news. The 32-year old is interested in joining the women’s 154-pound junior middleweight division.

If you think about it, Cyborg and boxing seem like the perfect fit. She has not lost a fight since her first loss in 2005 and almost every victory she has had came from TKO. Her second fight ever was a victory against Vanessa Porto via unanimous decision. Cyborg’s strikes are lethal and her strategy game is far superior compared to her opponents. The true test for her if she was to step in the ring would be her endurance. McGregor faltered while trying to keep pace, can the boxing style affect Cyborg’s power?

What’s interesting is that the Women’s Featherweight Division in the UFC is 136 to 145 pounds. The organization, especially Cyborg, has had issues with weight requirements over the years. This year alone has been subpar. It appears she is joining a class she is much more comfortable in.

The timing of it all is important. Cyborg has recently stated her contract expires in October. As champion, the UFC and her can try and come to an agreement regarding a one-year window. She has had a desire to face Holly Holm recently, and the latter does have boxing experience. Maybe in her mind it’s a test-run fight for her potential future career.

This entire situation is like a game of chess. The ultimate match to find out if she actually goes through with it all is on.