Cyborg Draws Finney at June 26 Strikeforce

Strikeforce women’s middleweight champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos will meet fellow EliteXC veteran Jan Finney at Strikeforce/M-1 Global “Fedor vs. Werdum” on June 26 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The promotion announced the matchup on Saturday.

Santos has finished seven of her last eight opponents, four of them inside the first round. Based out of The Arena Mixed Martial Arts in San Diego, the 24-year-old Brazilian last appeared in January, when she stopped Marloes Coenen on third-round strikes at Strikeforce “Miami.” Santos captured the Strikeforce women’s crown in August, as she put away the previously unbeaten Gina Carano with punches in the first round.

Finney will carry plenty of momentum into her promotional debut. The 30-year-old Nomad, Ohio-based fighter has rattled off four consecutive victories and crept above the .500 mark for her career. Finney earned a split decision against Adrienna Jenkins under the Freestyle Cage Fighting banner two months ago. She has not been finished in nearly three years.

Fedor Emelianenko, the world’s top-ranked heavyweight, will square off with UFC and Pride Fighting Championships veteran Fabricio Werdum in the June 26 headliner.