Cris Cyborg disputes featherweight belt in Invicta FC 6. Photo: Invicta FC/Disclosed

Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos is known as one of the best women in MMA. Only 27 years old and a record of 11-1, 1 N.C., the athlete went over a year without fighting after a fight against Hiroko Yamanaka. At the time, Santos was holding the Strikeforce featherweight belt and knocked out the Japanese opponent in just six seconds. Post-fight tests detected the use of illicit substances by the Brazilian, and she got a suspension of 12 months.

When she returned, the UFC had already decided the future of the other organization. Strikeforce would be extinct and only the bantamweight female category would go to the UFC. Cyborg was hired, but admitted that she couldn’t hit the 135 pounds, then she asked to leave and went to a smaller promotion, Invicta FC.

The fighter from Curitiba, Brazil, debuted in early April against Fiona Muxlow, who was replacing the injured Ediane India, and it was another knockout for her account (review the duel here). Cyborg underwent two doping tests after the victory, and both resulted negative, removing the stigma she was cast in 2012.

Now the former champion will have a new challenge ahead. She will compete for the featherweight belt against Marloes Coenen in Invicta FC 6 on July 13. The two have fought for the title in 2010 and Cris was better with a TKO. Nevertheless, the Dutch fighter has a great ground game and has submitted 15 of her 26 opponents. The last fight of Coenen was also against Fiona Muxlow, who she defeated with an armbar in Dream 18.

The event will feature three other Brazilian fighters: Claudia Gadelha, Ediane India and Duda Yankovich.

Check out the full card.

Invicta FC 6
Ameristar Casino Hotel, Kansas City, Missouri
July 13, 2013

Main Card

Marloes Coenen vs. Cristiane Santos
Carla Esparza vs. Ayaka Hamasaki
Sarah D’Alelio vs. Lauren Taylor
Leslie Smith vs. TBD
Jessica Penne vs. Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc
Joanne Calderwood vs. Claudia Gadelha
Julia Budd vs. Ediane Gomes
Bec Hyatt vs. Mizuki Inoue
Miriam Nakamoto vs. Duda Yankovich

Preliminary Card

Rose Namajunas vs. Tecia Torres
Ashley Cummins vs. Emily Kagan
Mollie Estes vs. Veronica Rothenhausler
Laura Sanko vs. Livia Von Plettenberg

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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Carla Esparza encara Bec Hyatt pelo cinturão até 52kg (115 libras). Fotos: Esther Lin/Invicta Fighting Championships

Evento de MMA exclusivo para mulheres, o Invicta FC 4 será realizado neste sábado, em Kansas City, no estado americano do Kansas.

Na quarta edição do torneio, 13 combates agitam o cage e entre os destaques está Carla Esparza, que faz a luta principal contra Bec Hyatt, pelo título até 52kg.

A californiana Carla, 25 anos, tem oito vitórias em dez duelos na carreira e vem embalada com dois nocautes seguidos sobre Sarah Schneider e Lynn Alvarez. A ex-lutadora do Bellator mostrou um pouco de sua academia para a equipe do GRACIEMAG.com, como você vê no vídeo abaixo.

As brasileiras Amanda Nunes e Ediane “Índia” Gomes também estão no card, e vão enfrentar Sarah D´Alelio e Hiroko Yamanaka respectivamente.

Rival de Kyra Gracie na Jiu-Jitsu Expo 2012, Alexis Davis finge que atira em Shayna Baszler.

Invicta FC 4
Kansas City, Estados Unidos
5 de janeiro de 2013

Carla Esparza vs Bec Hyatt
Shayna Baszler vs Alexis Davis
Raquel Pennington vs Leslie Smith
Sarah D’Alelio vs Amanda Nunes
Ediane Gomes vs Hiroko Yamanaka
Joanne Calderwood vs Livia Von Plettenberg
Stephanie Frausto vs Cassie Rodish
Amanda Bell vs Tamikka Brents
Jodie Esquibel vs Liz McCarthy
Emily Kagan vs Rose Namajunas
Tecia Torres vs Paige VanZant
Katalina Malungahu vs Veronica Rothenhausler
Cassie Robb vs Laura Sanko