There's a new weight class for Cris Cyborg's fight next month. And a new opponent, too.
Cyborg will defend her featherweight title against Daria Ibragimova in the main event of Invicta FC 15 on Jan. 16 in Costa Mesa, Calif., sources told MMA Fighting. Cindy Dandois was initially the opponent and the bout was going to be a 140-pound catchweight. Invicta officials confirmed the change Monday morning.
Things have been shaken up since Invicta president Shannon Knapp announced the card two weeks ago on The MMA Hour. The aftermath of Holly Holm's win over Ronda Rousey changed Cyborg's plans of moving down to bantamweight in the near future. On Inside MMA on Friday, Knapp said Cyborg would be defending her 145-pound belt at Invicta 15.
Also changing will be the opponent. Dandois tweeted Sunday night that she'll be trying out for the next season of The Ultimate Fighter at 135 pounds. Ibragimova was tabbed as the replacement last week.
Ibragimova (9-1), a native of Russia, has won seven straight fights, all by finish. Her lost loss, coincidentally, came against Dandois five years ago for M-1. Ibragimova, 31, a hard-nosed submission specialist, last fought for the Fight Nights organization, which, like Invicta, airs its fights on UFC Fight Pass.
Cyborg (14-1) is the most dominant female fighter in the world, especially after Rousey's loss to Holm. A Cyborg-Rousey matchup would have been the biggest bout in women's MMA -- and maybe all MMA -- history. Cyborg, 30, has not lost in 10 years, is the former Strikeforce women's featherweight champion and has knocked out every opponent since 2008.
Invicta FC 15 will be co-headlined by a strawweight title fight between champion Livia Renata Souza and DeAnna Bennett. The event will take place at The Hangar at the Orange County Fair.