This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Australia’s mixed martial arts stocks continue to rise, with Megan Anderson to become the country’s first woman to fight for a UFC world title.

Anderson will meet controversial superstar Cris “Cyborg” Justino for the featherweight title at UFC 214 in California on 29 July.

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It means Australia could have two world champions if Anderson and Robert Whittaker, who will face Yoel Romero for the interim middleweight title belt on 8 July, win their coming fights.

However, both Australians are underdogs, with Cuba’s Romero the No1 contender and Whittaker ranked third.

Brazilian Justino boasts a 16-1 record, comparing favourably with 27-year-old Anderson’s 8-2 since her first bout four years ago.

But Anderson, a Gold Coast product who resides in Kansas City, Missouri, is confident her hand will be raised in Anaheim next month.

“It’s no longer about the length of time you’ve had in the sport. It’s about hunger and dedication,” she told ESPN. “Just because I’ve been doing this for less time doesn’t mean I’m less deserving.

“I have an amazing team behind me and I know what I’m capable of. Honestly, I think it’s my time to shine and it’s time for someone new – someone exciting, someone relatable – to take that torch of the best 145-pound (66kg) female in the world.”

Anderson beat Canadian veteran Charmaine Tweet with a second-round technical knockout for the Invicta FC interim featherweight championship in January.

The featherweight title is vacant after the belt was taken off champion Germaine de Randamie for her refusal to fight No1 contender Justino due to her history with performance-enhancing drugs.

Justino was banned for a year in 2012 after testing positive to a banned steroid following her win over Hiroko Yamanaka, with the fight later rule a no-contest.

Justino, a powerful fighter who’s unbeaten in 12 years, stopped Lina Lansberg in two rounds in her last bout in September last year.