For quite some time now, Gina Carano has been considered “the face of
women’s MMA.” As such, the brawling beauty became the standard-bearer
by which other female fighters are often judged.
But Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos defeated Carano rather
handily this past August and ushered in a new era in the women’s side
of the sport.
With a physically imposing, muscular frame and an aggressive style that
rivals that of any fighter on the men’s side of the sport, Santos
showed that female mixed martial artists are competing in the exact
same sport fans have learned to love. Now, she hopes fans will simply
realize the same thing.