Fiona Muxlow will now face Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos in her Invicta FC debut, at the promotions fifth event. Invicta FC officials announced the new pairing earlier today.
Muxlow was slated to meet Canadian Julia Budd on the April 5th show, but will now welcome the former Strikeforce women’s featherweight champ back from suspension, after the hard hitting Brazilian’s original opponent Ediane Gomes was forced out with a rib injury. Julia Budd is expected to remain on the card with the promotion currently searching for a replacement.
Bringing a 6-2 record to the featherweight tilt, Muxlow will be looking to get back on track after dropping her last outing to Marloes Coenen at Dream 18. The 35 year-old stepped up to face the Dutch superstar on late notice, and was submitted in the first period. Prior to that loss, the Aussie had rattled off three wins on the trot.
Santos hasn’t fought since December 2011 when she demolished Hiroko Yamanaka in 16 seconds at Strikeforce – Melendez vs. Masvidal. The TKO victory was later overturned and ruled a no-contest after the 2009 and 2010 female fighter of the year tested positive to the anabolic steroid stanozolol. She was subsequently handed a 12-month suspension.
Invicta FC 5 — which will take place on April 5th at the Ameristar Casino Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri — will also see Sydney atomweight standout Alex Chambers lock horns with the undefeated Jodie Esquibel in her Invicta debut, while fellow Aussie and former strawweight title challanger Bec “Rowdy” Hyatt meets Austrian striker Jasminka “Impressive” Cive in her second promotional appearance.
Fight card to date:
- Jessica Penne vs Michelle Waterson – Atomweight Championship
- Vanessa Porto vs Barb Honchak – Flyweight Championship
- Fiona Muxlow vs Cristiane Santos
- Sarah Kaufman vs Leslie Smith
- Jennifer Maia vs Zoila Gurgel
- Kaitlin Young vs Lauren Taylor
- Julia Budd vs TBA
- Bec Hyatt vs Jasminka Cive
- Simona Soukupova vs Cassie Rodish
- Jessamyn Duke vs Miriam Nakamoto
- Katja Kankaanpaa vs Juliana Carneiro Lima
- Mollie Estes vs Veronica Rothenhausler
- Alex Chambers vs Jodie Esquibel
- Rose Namajunas vs Kathina Catron
