Cris “Cyborg” Justino’s next fight is scheduled to take place the same weekend as her rival Ronda Rousey’s. Oh, and in the same city, too.
“Cyborg” will defend her Invicta FC featherweight title against Charmaine Tweet on Feb. 27 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Invicta FC president Shannon Knapp confirmed to MMAFighting.com. Of course, Rousey’s UFC women’s bantamweight title fight against Cat Zingano, the co-main event of UFC 184, is also set for the following night at the Staples Center in L.A.
Justino (12-1, 1 NC) hasn’t fought since July 2013 when she defeated Marloes Coenen to became Invicta’s inaugural featherweight champion. She was scheduled to make her much-anticipated bantamweight debut in December, however, an ankle injury forced her off the card. Since her win against Coenen, the Brazilian veteran went 1-1 in Muay Thai competition.
Tweet (6-4) has won her last two fights in a row and five of her last six. The 37-year-old Canadian is 1-1 under the Invicta banner.
The decision to book this main event in L.A. is without a doubt a shrewd move by the all-women’s promotion, who will look to capitalize on the UFC being in town the same weekend and the long-simmering feud between Rousey and Justino. Most recently, Rousey said on “The MMA Hour” that Justino should be charged with “attempted negligent homicide” after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug stanozolol in 2011. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The full Invicta FC 11 card is expected to be announced in the coming days.