CURITIBA, BRAZIL – MAY 14: (L-R) Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Justino of Brazil celebrates after defeating Leslie Smith in their women’s catchweight bout during the UFC 198 event at Arena da Baixada stadium on May 14, 2016 in Curitiba, Parana, Brazil. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
UFC featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino was invited to Los Angeles Chargers training camp on Monday and hip tossed a coach, but all in good fun.
UFC featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino was invited to Los Angeles Chargers training camp at the Jack Hammett Sports Complex on Monday for her first taste of American football — and it looks like she had the time of her life.
Justino is considered one of the scariest female athletes in the sport today, and it was clear that the players knew she was someone who could do some serious damage.
“I don’t want no problems,” joked wide receiver Keenan Allen when Justino handed her belt over for a photo op.
The Chargers wide receiver coach, Phil McGeoghan, even let Justino hip toss him on the field. Justino met McGeoghan at one of her fights last year and they were finally able to come together on his turf for a mini-reunion.
Though it may have seemed like a perk for Justino, it played out for both sides as many of the players were just as excited to meet her.
“Cyborg is a champion,” offensive tackle Russell Okung told the Chargers staff reporter. “We’re out here working to perfect our craft and we’re talking about winning our division. It’s great to see a champion. It’s great to see someone who’s been at the top before and she embodies that. I was really excited to meet her.”
Justino, who also happened to have been a pretty intense handball player in college, isn’t as familiar with football as many other Americans, having lived most of her life in Brazil. Now that she’s a full-fledged American citizen she’s eager to learn more.
“It’s really nice,” Cyborg told the Chargers. “In Brazil, we really only have (soccer) so we don’t know too much about (American football). But I’m very excited. It’s a great game, and something technical but coachable. I love it.”
The Chargers just played their first game of the preseason but fell to the Arizona Cardinals 17-24. Their first regular season game will be Sept. 9 when they host the Kansas City Chiefs.