According to UFC featherweight champion Cris "Cyborg" Justino, she still plans to pursue a run in professional boxing at some point - despite signing a new multi-year deal with the UFC.

Cyborg (18-1 in MMA) secured a license to box in the state of California two months ago.

She is scheduled to fight again on December 30 as part of UFC 219 - against former company champion Holly Holm, who was a very successful boxer and a former unified champion before making a decision to go full-time with MMA several years ago.

While her goal to box may have been a problem a year ago, UFC President Dana White has stated in several recent interviews that his company intends to enter the boxing market in 2018.

The UFC's most popular fighter, Conor McGregor, made his pro boxing debut in August, when he was stopped in ten rounds by comebacking Floyd Mayweather Jr. Their fight was one of the most successful sporting events in history, which likely influenced the UFC's decision to explore the possibility of staging boxing events. Other popular UFC fighters like Nate Diaz have also obtained a license to box.

Cyborg is very good friends with current world champion and two-time Olympic gold medal winner Claressa Shields. The two have sparred in the past.

"The UFC knows I'm interested in boxing, and that boxing fans have started asking for fights against [former champion] Layla McCarter and [champion] Cecilia Braekhus," Cyborg told ESPN.

"I will let my management and the UFC decide when to let those discussions [regarding a boxing debut] become public, however, I will say that over the next 15 months, my team shares the same goals as the UFC."

"I have a few fights already lined up for the UFC that we will need to focus on, however I got my boxing license because I eventually intend on having a professional boxing fight and the UFC knows this."