‘Cyborg’ Joins Fedor at June 26 Strikeforce
Brian Knapp May 14, 2010
Strikeforce women’s middleweight champion Cristiane
“Cyborg” Santos will compete alongside Fedor
Emelianenko at Strikeforce/M-1 Global “Fedor vs. Werdum” on
June 26 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. An opponent for
Santos has not yet been named.
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.
In the June 26 headliner, Emelianenko, the world’s top-ranked heavyweight, will square off with UFC and Pride Fighting Championships veteran Fabricio Werdum.
Emelianenko will enter the match unbeaten in his last 28 appearances. The stoic 33-year-old Russian last appeared in November, when he stopped the previously unbeaten Brett Rogers on second-round strikes in his ballyhooed promotional debut for Strikeforce. Wins over former UFC champions Mark Coleman (twice), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (twice), Andrei Arlovski, Tim Sylvia and Kevin Randleman anchor his stellar resume, along with other high-profile victories against 2006 Pride open weight grand prix winner Mirko Filipovic, former Strikeforce light heavyweight titleholder Renato Sobral and 2000 Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland. Emelianenko has 21 first-round finishes among his 31 career wins.
Werdum, a black belt in judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, has been finished only once in 18 professional bouts. The 32-year-old has not fought since he outpointed former EliteXC heavyweight champion Antonio Silva by unanimous decision six months ago. Werdum, a two-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships winner, holds submission victories over Emelianenko’s younger brother, Aleksander Emelianenko, and reigning Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.
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.
In the June 26 headliner, Emelianenko, the world’s top-ranked heavyweight, will square off with UFC and Pride Fighting Championships veteran Fabricio Werdum.
Emelianenko will enter the match unbeaten in his last 28 appearances. The stoic 33-year-old Russian last appeared in November, when he stopped the previously unbeaten Brett Rogers on second-round strikes in his ballyhooed promotional debut for Strikeforce. Wins over former UFC champions Mark Coleman (twice), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (twice), Andrei Arlovski, Tim Sylvia and Kevin Randleman anchor his stellar resume, along with other high-profile victories against 2006 Pride open weight grand prix winner Mirko Filipovic, former Strikeforce light heavyweight titleholder Renato Sobral and 2000 Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland. Emelianenko has 21 first-round finishes among his 31 career wins.
Werdum, a black belt in judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, has been finished only once in 18 professional bouts. The 32-year-old has not fought since he outpointed former EliteXC heavyweight champion Antonio Silva by unanimous decision six months ago. Werdum, a two-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships winner, holds submission victories over Emelianenko’s younger brother, Aleksander Emelianenko, and reigning Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.
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