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MMA Squared, episode 6: Cyborg Is Living in a John Hughes Movie
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She was an outsider, talented, but not a conventional beauty.
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A trio of archetypal bullies were keeping her down:
The Rich Kid
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The Mean Girl
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and their unwitting henchman, The Jock
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Eventually the pressure from fans got Cyborg into the UFC, but they demanded punishing weight cuts. Cyborg played ball and continued to smash.
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All of a sudden, no more cutting to 140lbs. Cyborg got a weight class, and a belt, beating Tonya Evinger at UFC 214.
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And in less than three months she saved two PPV events, headlining UFC 219 and 222. In true teen movie fashion, her bullies were made to call her fights,
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sign her checks,
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and find a new set of friends
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<cue Don’t You Forget About Me montage>