Cris Cyborg wasn't all that surprised to find out Amanda Nunes wanted to fight her next. 

Following her win over Holly Holm in December at UFC 219, Cyborg asked to face a legitimate featherweight contender in her own division rather than constantly facing fighters who were really just bloated 135-pounders moving up to a different weight class.

Instead, UFC President Dana White immediately mentioned a super fight between Cyborg and Nunes, which would pit the women's featherweight champion against the current women's bantamweight champion.

Considering Cyborg may end up with the third biggest pay-per-view card of 2017, she started to realize why Nunes might be so interested in a fight with her versus a scrap against another opponent at 135 pounds.

"Amanda fought Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate with big pay-per-view numbers," Cyborg explained when speaking to FloCombat. "The reality though is that the UFC promoted her opponents more than her, and after having to fight on her own brand she struggled to sell 100,000 pay-per-views against (Valentina) Shevchenko.

"Amanda knows my name sells pay-per-views, and without it her brand isn’t strong enough to sell enough pay-per-views to reach her bonus incentives in her contract."

The bonus incentives are common for UFC champions, who are paid out a certain percentage of pay-per-view sales once the event breaks a certain threshold. Those bonuses have led to multi-million-dollar paydays for superstars such as Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey. 

While Cyborg knows she can draw on pay-per-view, the prospect of facing someone like Nunes in a champion-versus-champion scenario is one in which she believes the UFC should really put them into a marquee position to succeed.

That's why Cyborg asked for the UFC to put her fight against Nunes on the upcoming July event that will headline International Fight Week, which is always one of the biggest cards of the year for the promotion.

Whether it's that card or another one, though, Cyborg says she wants to compete on a marquee card if the UFC wants her to face a marquee opponent.

"I have three fights remaining on my UFC contract, and one of them will be Amanda Nunes," Cyborg said. "I am going to let my manager negotiate when and where that fight happens.  If the UFC feels she is the next Conor McGregor, then I think the fight needs to happen on one of the blockbuster 2018 fight cards. 

"The UFC paid Ronda Rousey $3 million dollars to fight Amanda Nunes, and Miesha got to fight Amanda as a main event with Brock Lesnar fighting on her pay-per-view.

"I would like that same type of exposure if I’m fighting her ahead of the girls at 145 pounds," Cyborg concluded. "People forget Amanda Nunes was TKO’d by Alexis Davis at 145. She wasn’t a champ in Invicta or Strikeforce."

It's clear Cyborg is more than happy to face Nunes next — but not without certain concessions being made that will ensure her the best chance to succeed financially as well.

As of now, the UFC has made no official announcements regarding the timing for the fight between Cyborg and Nunes, but a decision could be made at any time.

By Damon Martin