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Megan Anderson feels Cyborg fight doesn't make sense right now

"I'm not running from her, but yes, I know that I need to work on my skills if I'm going to fight the best pound-for-pound female in the world," Anderson said about any potential fight with Cris "Cyborg" Justino. Scott Hirano, Invicta FC

The social media post hit Megan Anderson's Twitter feed shortly after UFC 208 on Saturday.

The UFC had just crowned Germaine de Randamie its inaugural 145-pound female champion, following a decision victory over Holly Holm. The UFC had flown Cris "Cyborg" Justino out to Brooklyn, so she could be cageside for this historic night. Expectations were that Justino would face Saturday's winner.

But when de Randamie revealed in a postfight interview she may require hand surgery, Justino immediately turned her attention to Anderson.

"Sounds like [de Randamie] might need some time off," Justino wrote on Twitter. "[Megan Anderson], you ready to unify the [Invicta FC] belts?!"

In other words, the most dominant female featherweight of all time had just publicly called Anderson (8-2) out. The 27-year-old Aussie admits she has struggled to come up with the appropriate response since.

She opted to write back on Twitter, and said it's clear the UFC wants Justino and de Randamie to fight. She added that Justino still faces an uncertain suspension for a failed drug test in December.

Justino (17-1) immediately accused Anderson of ducking her, an accusation Anderson says Justino's fan base swarmed to over the next 24 hours.

"Cris is trying to call me out, which is awesome and I'm flattered she thinks I'm a contender," Anderson told ESPN.com. "I don't like the way she did it, though. Her fans got on the hate wagon. I had to turn off my notifications because of the hate I was getting. It was pretty s---- to see, and I just couldn't see it anymore.

"I don't think she did it to be mean, but people run with stuff like that and they get a little bit crazy."

The reality is, Anderson doesn't know how to publicly respond to the challenge because at the end of the day, truthfully, she would prefer not to fight Justino next.

It's true, she is the interim Invicta featherweight champion. Justino is still the official Invicta champion, even though she hasn't fought for the organization since January 2016.

But beyond that potential storyline, Anderson just doesn't believe fighting Justino makes sense at this point in her career -- for multiple reasons.

"The thing is, I want to fight Cris, but right now in my career, I'm not going to get the type of money she's getting," Anderson said. "Cris was the highest-earning athlete in Invicta because the UFC was involved with her contract. If I'm fighting Cris, I would want to make sure I'm getting more than basic, entry-level pay."

Anderson, originally from Australia and now fighting out of Kansas City, Missouri, also admits there's a glaring discrepancy in experience.

Justino has held titles in multiple organizations and has been fighting professionally since 2005. Anderson began training four years ago and has been fighting pro only since November 2013.

"I'm not running from her, but yes, I know that I need to work on my skills if I'm going to fight the best pound-for-pound female in the world," Anderson said. "I would want a few more fights. It doesn't mean I'm ducking her. I just want one or two more fights, especially on a big platform.

"I don't want to be fed to anyone. I don't want to be anyone's stepping stone. I want to make sure I'm set up and my career is being looked after as well. I'm not cannon fodder, if you will."

For now, so much remains in the air regarding the UFC's new division, it's unlikely anything will be resolved quickly. In addition to de Randamie's hand and Justino's failed drug test, the UFC hasn't even made a discernible commitment to the new weight class.

As happy as Anderson was to witness Saturday, she says it still feels as though the entire division is in a state of limbo.

"The UFC hasn't approached me as far as I'm aware," Anderson said. "You would think if they wanted to build a division, they would start talking to the people who are currently in that division.

"I think it's still up in the air. [UFC president Dana White] came out and said he wasn't happy with that fight. I wouldn't be surprised if they turned around and said they're not going to do it anymore."

That said, Anderson is of course hopeful the UFC fully commits to the new weight class and said as a young, successful woman in the division, a future fight against Justino seems virtually inevitable. Even if she wanted to try and hide from the Brazilian, there's nowhere to really do so.

But in terms of what's best for her right now? It's probably not the fight to take.

"I know that fight will happen and I want that fight to happen," Anderson said. "I just don't think it needs to happen right now.

"I'm in a really tough position all of a sudden, because it's almost like I can't say anything or someone will take it the wrong way."