Former Strikeforce featherweight champion Cris Cyborg has signed a multi-fight deal with Invicta FC and will make her debut with the company at Invicta FC 5 on April 5th against Ediane Gomes.
The announcement of her signing was made on Friday by her manager Tito Ortiz at a press conference in California, which was shown live on Inside MMA on AXS TV.
“We are thrilled to welcome Cris Cyborg, arguably the top pound-for-pound female fighter in the world, to our rapidly growing roster of world-class athletes,” said Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp. “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.”
The winner of Cyborg and Gomes will meet former Strikeforce bantamweight champion Marloes Coenen at Invicta FC 6, which the date of that card has not been released.
Cyborg (10-1, 1NC) has not been in action since the end of 2011, due to a positive drug test after her fight against Hiroko Yamanaka. She had hope to take on Ronda Rousey in a 140 pound catchweight bout, but the UFC wanted the fight to take place at 135 pounds.
“I am excited to finally get back in the cage and to have the opportunity to fight for Invicta Fighting Championships, which has shown a tremendous amount of commitment to furthering the growth of women’s MMA,” said Cyborg. “I will be ready on April 5 for Ediane and I plan to dominate my competition as I’ve done in the past.”
Gomes (10-2) has won four in a row, with her most recent victory coming at Invicta FC 4 against Yamanaka. One of her two career defeats came against Rousey and seven of his ten wins are by submission. She was originally scheduled to face Julia Budd at Invicta FC 5 and Budd will now face Fiona Muxlow on the card.
Invicta FC 5 takes place on April 5th from the Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City and the card will be feature two title bouts as Jessica Penne defends the Invicta FC atomweight title against Michelle Waterson and Vanessa Porto meets Barb Honchak for the inaugural flyweight title.