Cris Cyborg Defends Against Daria Ibragimova at Invicta FC 15

Cris “Cyborg” Justino is staying at 145 pounds, as reported by MMAWeekly.com on Saturday, where she will defend her Invicta FC featherweight championship against Russian fighter Daria Ibragimova.

After Ronda Rousey lost to Holly Holm at UFC 193 and with the current ban on IV’s as a source of rehydrating from a weight cut, Cyborg gave up on her attempts to get down to 135 pounds for a blockbuster fight with Rousey. She instead has decided to defend her featherweight championship at Invicta FC 15 on Jan. 16 at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Cyborg was initially planning on taking a catchweight bout at 140 pounds for her next bout in an attempt to gradually work her way down to 135 pounds, but appears to have given up hope on being able to safely cut the weight.

“Some fans are disappointed I will not be making my debut at 140 pounds as had been anticipated for November, however. as a Team, we felt it was best to make 145 pounds without the usual IV Rehydration methods I am use to,” Cyborg wrote on her website.

RELATED > After Ronda Rousey Loss, Cris Cyborg Will Stay at 145 Pounds

As a fighter who is under contract with the UFC, but fighting for Invicta, Cyborg is still subject to the UFC Anti-Doping Policy administered by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, which includes an IV ban.

Cyborg (14-1, 1 NC) hasn’t fought since July, when she TKO’d Faith Van Duin inside the first minute of their fight. In her 10 years of professional mixed martial arts competition, Cyborg has lost only once, in her very first bout. The only other blemish on her record was having a quick win over Hiroko Yamanaka changed to a no contest and having her Strikeforce belt stripped after she tested positive for a steroids.

Ibragimov (9-1) is currently on a seven-fight winning streak, three of which took place earlier this year. Her lone defeat was at the hands of Cindy Dandois, whom Cyborg was initially going to fight when the plan was for her to fight at a 140-pound catchweight bout.

In the co-main event, the strawweight champion Livia Renata Souza (8-0) will put her belt on the line against fellow unbeaten fighter DeAnna Bennett (8-0).

Souza captured the 115-pound title with a fourth-round finish of Katja Kankaanpää at Invicta FC 12. Seven of the 24-year-old’s wins have come via submission, including five in the first round.

Bennett has won four straight Invicta FC bouts. Since dropping to 115 pounds, she has defeated Norma Rueda Center, as well as the aforementioned Kankaanpää, in her last two outings.

Also announced for the event will be another strawweight bout between recently signed UFC veteran Angela Hill (2-2) and veteran striker Jodie Esquibel (5-1). Esquibel will move up from atomweight riding a two-fight winning streak.