Cristiane Santos has been trying to build a super fight with UFC women’s Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey for the better part of a year now. But even after all that time, the fight never came to fruition. Without the fight she wanted and unable to make the 135 lb. bantamweight limit, “Cyborg” asked to be released from her UFC contract.
Friday on Inside MMA, Santos and her manager Tito Ortiz announced that she signed a multi-fight deal with Invicta Fighting Championships. In her promotional debut, Cyborg will face Ediane Gomes at Invicta 5. On top of that, Invicta founder Shannon Knapp confirmed that the winner of the fight will move on to face Marloes Coenen for the Featherweight championship.
Gomes was originally scheduled to face Julia Budd on the April 5 card. Instead she will fight Fiona Muxlow. The event will take place at the Ameristar Casino Hotel in Kansas City, KS. In the main event, Jessica Penne will defend her Atomweight title against Michelle Waterson.
Full fight card:
Jessica Penne vs. Michelle Waterson
Vanessa Porto vs. Barb Honchak
Cristiane Santos vs. Ediane Gomes
Sarah Kaufman vs. Leslie Smith
Zoila Gurgel vs. Jennifer Maia
Kaitlin Young vs. Amanda Nunes
Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc vs. Cassie Rodish
Bec Hyatt vs. Jasminka Cive
Katja Kankaanpaa vs. Juliana Carneiro Lima
Jessamyn Duke vs. Miriam Nakamoto
Alex Chambers vs. Jodie Esquibel
Rose Namajunas vs. Kathina Catron
Veronica Rothenhausler vs. Mollie Estes
River Jones vs. Lauron Barefoot