Cris Cyborg In Workout Gear Calls Holly Holms “The Greatest Female Boxer”

MMA fighter Cris Cyborg (real name Cristiane Justino Venâncio) is training with Holly Holms—who she says is the greatest female boxer in the world. Cyborg, 38, shared a picture of herself wearing yellow leggings and a black sports bra, posing next to Holms in the cage. “Now we are only 2 weeks away from the greatest female boxer to ever compete in MMA @hollyholm return to the cage. Don’t Miss Holly Holm X Judo Kayla at UFC 300. Holly is coming for all the glory,” she captioned the post. Here’s what Cyborg’s diet, fitness, and training looks like.

1. Cyborg Origins

Cyborg chose her name as being reflective of her tough personality and focus. “I always was very disciplined in all of the sports that I practiced and always tried to make it my objective to do everything it took to do my best and not to worry about the consequences," she told Soul Brasil Magazine. "So then, when I was training at kickboxing I met my husband Evangelista 'Cyborg' who also is a fighter. So from then on my last name was stuck being Cris 'Cyborg'. I competed a lot as a fighter in Brazil, but it got to the point where there was no one left to fight. There were two years when I didn’t fight competitively at all. It was then that there came the opportunity to come to the United States to train and fight."

2. MMA Diet

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Cyborg details the ideal fighting diet on her website: it should consist of a good protein, starch, and salad, two hours before a fight. “You’ll want to eat a high-protein, high-carbohydrate meal about two hours before your fight. A pre-fight meal like this will give you a slow and steady release of energy that lasts for hours. It will also help to reduce the amount of lactic acid your body produces as you train, which can cause soreness and fatigue. Pre-fight meals should also be low in fat, fiber, and sodium. The last thing you want is a full stomach during a fight, so you want to eat a meal that is high in calories but that doesn’t leave you feeling overly full.”

3. Martial Arts Expert

Cyborg’s training is solidly based in martial arts—several different types. "I began with Muay Thai and then I learned to incorporate others important martial art forms, among them Wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu," she told Soul Brasil Magazine. "This fusion is very important if you think seriously about competing on MMA, and in particular the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on floor technique."

4. Healing Meals

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Cyborg advises fighters to choose healthy foods that help repair the body post-fight. “This means eating lots of protein and healthy fats like avocado, olive oil, coconut oil, and salmon. You may also want to consume a sports drink like Gatorade or Powerade to replace the electrolytes your body lost while fighting,” according to her website. “Pre- and post-fight meals are also an excellent opportunity to add in foods rich in vitamins and minerals, which will help you recover faster and minimize post-fight soreness and inflammation.”

5. Proud Role Model

Cyborg is thrilled more women are going into the fighting world. “The female MMA is getting more and more popular and I am really happy about this,” she told Soul Brasil Magazine. “I will do what is within my reach to be able to contribute to its greater popularity and to see more doors opening for women in the MMA. The perspectives really are great. I think that by fighting well competitively and showing all of my potential I can contribute to the MMA attracting more and more interest from the public in general.”