Cris Cyborg has made her first public comments since news broke of her punching Angela Magana at the UFC Fighter Resort this weekend. In a lengthy post to her Facebook page, Cyborg didn’t address Magana by name, but spoke in detail on how she feels a culture of bullying at the UFC has been cultivated from the top down.
“Similar to my time in the gym with Chute Boxe I have learned that just like in fighting, culture in business is developed by those seen successful and high profile within the company,” Cyborg wrote. “Examples of leadership are learned from the top down, and this results in what eventually becomes the culture of the company, and the identity of their relationships, and their associates.
“When disparaging comments are made at the top, it sets an example that it is acceptable within the company, allowing lower ranking individuals to continuing following examples of leaders, establishing the culture and practices of the company.
“It is no secret I have been a victim of online bullying. At times in my career it has felt like their has been a team of writers using the internet to shape the public’s vision of my company’s brand, often attempting to make me look like the face of anabolic abuse in the sport of MMA. While it has been years since someone has said I looked like “Wanderlia Silva in a dress”, it doesn’t feel that long ago that I was listening to someone give me advice on how cutting off my dick would help me to make 135lbs easier. When people see these actions of people high profile in the company being promoted through social media without consequence or even a public apology, they see it as an acceptable behavior within the company, and often view it as an encouraged opportunity at self promotion. It should never be acceptable for a company to allow their employees to develop a culture where sexual harassment, racial prejudices, or female discrimination are acceptable in the work place.”
After Magana elected to press charges, Cyborg has been cited with misdemeanour battery — a crime that can be punishable by a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine — in the wake of the incident. While the footage itself isn’t particularly clear, on Monday morning a short clip emerged of the altercation, showing the manner of the argument itself. Cyborg was clearly enraged by Magana’s recent trend of social media posts mocking the Brazilian (a trend that continues even in the wake of the scuffle), and when Magana defended her right to do so, she ended up throwing a punch.
“For me it is simple to see the things I value,” Cyborg continued. “I am a family girl from Brazil who is not impressed by the lights of the show and the sound of the radio. While I do place some value in money I also know the joys of working for a company that values respect, loyalty, and honesty amongst its associates and discourages a workplace where sexual harassment, racial prejudices, and discrimination against females fighters is acceptable promotion.”
As of yet, there has been no official statement from the UFC themselves.
