LOS ANGELES — Cris “Cyborg” Justino will be an Invicta FC fighter for at least one more event.
Justino will headline an Invicta event July 10 in Las Vegas, a card that will be held as part of the UFC’s annual International Fight Week, Invicta FC president Shannon Knapp announced Friday after Invicta 11. UFC 189 will take place one day later and a UFC Fight Night show on FOX Sports 1 is likely for the night after that.
“Cyborg” knocked out Charmaine Tweet in just 46 seconds at Invicta FC 11 on Friday here at Shrine Hall. Justino defended her women’s featherweight title with the victory. She is not sure if she’ll fight in July at that weight or 135 pounds.
Justino (12-1, 1 NC), the former Strikeforce champion and one of the best women’s fighters in the world, said after Invicta 11 that she will eventually attempt to make 135 in hopes of fighting UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey some time soon. But Rousey will not be her next fight. UFC president Dana White and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta were in attendance Friday. “Cyborg” is currently negotiating with the UFC.
Justino’s opponent for July 10 has not been named yet. The co-main event on that card will be an atomweight title bout between champion Herica Tiburcio and Ayaka Hamasaki. The two women were supposed to meet at Invicta FC 9 in November before Tiburcio got hurt.
Tiburcio (9-2) ended up winning the atomweight belt from Michelle Waterson one month later. Hamasaki (11-1) has won two straight and her lone career loss came against current UFC women’s strawweight contender Claudia Gadelha.
Invicta also announced its next card, which will take place April 10 at a location still to be determined. The main event of Invicta FC 12 will be a strawweight title fight between champion Katja Kankaanpaa and undefeated prospect Livia Renata Souza.
Kankaanpaa (10-1) won the vacant title against Stephanie Eggink in September. Souza (7-0) will be making her Invicta debut and is just 23 years old.