Cris “Cyborg” Santos signed with Invicta FC. Photo uncredited.
Following a release from the UFC, Cris “Cyborg” Santos has signed a multi-fight deal with all-women’s MMA promotion Invicta FC and will fight on their April 5 card, the fighter and her manager announced on Friday evening.
Cyborg will face Ediane “India” Gomes, and the fight will take place at 145 pounds. The winner will face Marloes Coenen at Invicta FC 6 on a yet-to-be-determined date.
“I am excited to finally get back in the cage and to have the opportunity to fight for Invicta,” Santos said in a statement. “I will be ready on April 5 for Ediane and I plan to dominate my competition as I’ve done in the past.”
Santos (10-1, 1 N.C.) made headlines a week ago when her manager, Tito Ortiz, announced on Inside MMA that the fighter requested a release from her UFC contract. The Zuffa-owned company responded to this request, granted the release, and now Invicta is where Cyborg will call home.
Invicta president Shannon Knapp touted Cyborg, saying that the fighter paved the way for women in the sport.
“We are thrilled to welcome Cris Cyborg,” Knapp said. “Cris’ incredible performances in front of national TV audiences over the last few years have helped put women’s MMA on the radar of the masses and paved the way for others to establish themselves in the sport.”
Gomes (10-2) has fought for a number of promotions, but her last two outings have been under the Invicta banner. Most recently, she went the distance with Hiroko Yamanaka to earn the unanimous decision last month at Invicta FC 4.
Santos hasn’t competed since overwhelming Yamanaka at a Strikeforce card in December 2011. She originally won the bout by knockout in the first round, but the fight was turned to a no-contest when it was discovered that Santos tested positive to banned substances.
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