Cris Cyborg’s Invicta FC 5 Victory Sets Up Championship Rematch with Marloes Coenen

“I’m very happy to come back and I want to fight soon.”

Cris Cyborg made that statement following a first-round TKO stoppage of Fiona Muxlow at Invicta FC 5 on Friday night. It was Cyborg’s first bout in 16 months, marking her return from a yearlong suspension for testing positive for steroids following her last fight.

The victory not only marked her return to action, it also launched her into a title fight with Marloes Coenen for the Invicta FC featherweight championship, assuring Cyborg that she will indeed fight again soon.

The bout is expected to take place in the latter part of June or early July, Invicta FC president Shannon Knapp told MMAWeekly.com.

Coenen and Cyborg are looking forward to the fight just the same. It’s a rematch of their Jan. 30, 2010, Strikeforce bout, in which Cyborg won via TKO stoppage in the third round.

“After my first fight with Cris – I know this sounds stupid – but I kind of underestimated her,” said Coenen on Friday night. “But I hate it when I lose. I really hate that and I always want to make up for my losses.

“What I like about Cris is she is a true, true fighter,” Coenen continued.

“I like a challenge. I always said I wanted to do it at the end of my career, but if it came sooner, it came sooner.”

The respect is mutual.

“I am very pleased because after the fight I did with her and she lose,” commented Cyborg, “she say to me, I want to fight you again.”

The fight is expected to headline Invicta FC 6.