Cyborg: Amanda Nunes Is a Traitor for Affiliation with American Top Team, Colby Covington

Cristiane Justino had some strong words recently regarding Amanda Nunes’ association with Florida-based training camp American Top Team.

More specifically, “Cyborg” points to Nunes’ willingness to share a gym with controversial UFC welterweight Colby Covington, who referred to the entire nation of Brazil as “filthy animals” following a victory over Demian Maia at UFC Fight Night 119 last October. Since then, Covington has continued with his anti-Brazilian campaign.

“‘Creonte’ is a Brazilian word that means traitor,” Cyborg said in an interview with FanSided. “I think it’s embarrassing that the UFC made Amanda the first female Brazilian champion and instead of representing Brazil when she fights, she calls herself American Top Team. She disrespects Brazilian MMA fans every time she walks into the cage as a part of American Top Team.

“This is the same gym as Colby Covington. He disrespected Brazil so badly that the UFC was worried they didn’t have enough security to keep him safe and had to move his fight against [Rafael dos Anjos] to the USA instead of Brazil,” she continued. “Yet Nunes goes into the gym every day to train alongside Colby Covington and even shares the same coaches. Where I’m from in Brazil this would never happen. Imagine Chael Sonnen walking into Chute Boxe and training with Wanderlei Silva, Anderson Silva, or any of the coaches. Do you think they would have let him train after all the things he said about Brazil? No. They would have defended Brazil’s honor. Amanda doesn’t have that same respect for Brazil.”

Nunes did not condone Covington’s comments, however, as she issued her own response to “Chaos” shortly after the welterweight’s victory over Maia.

Just a D BAG

— Amanda Nunes (@Amanda_Leoa) October 29, 2017

Still, Justino believes her UFC 232 bout with Nunes is about more than just the featherweight title. “Cyborg’ claims she will be representing her country when she squares off agains Nunes on Dec. 29.

“When she called me out last year at first I didn’t want to fight her,” she said. “I wanted to see all the women divisions run by the Brazilians. Myself, Amanda, [Jessica] Andrade, we could have all been champions and I thought it would bring pride back to all of Brazil. But Nunes is from a Team of Creontes.  At American Top Team it is normal for teammates to fight each other. She called me out last year but then wanted a year before we can fight.  When I fight her Dec. 29 it will be for everyone in Brazil, and it will be to teach Nunes a lesson about respect.”