Cris Cyborg to make UFC debut, face Leslie Smith at UFC 198

Welcome to the UFC, Cris Cyborg.

After years of speculation, Cyborg (15-1, one no-contest) will step into the UFC Octagon May 14 at UFC 198 in Curitiba, Brazil, where she will face veteran mixed martial artist Leslie Smith (8-6-1).

The fight will be contested at 140 pounds, according to the initial report from the UFC.

Since losing her professional MMA debut in May 2005, Cyborg is undefeated inside the cage, going 15-0 during that stretch. A would-be 16th victory – a TKO of Hiroko Yamanaka at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal – was overturned after Cyborg tested positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol post-fight.

Most recently, Cyborg, the current Invicta FC featherweight champion, knocked out Daria Ibragimova at Invicta FC 15, marking her third-straight first-round finish. Of Cyborg's 15 victories, 13 have come via KO/TKO, earning her a reputation as the most feared female striker in the sport today.

While Cyborg's name was long linked to a showdown with Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate or Holly Holm, it is Smith who officially gets the nod.

@xSAVExHARLEYx she is the only one that wanted to fight Cyborg. Leslie begged for it. #respect @LeslieSmith_GF

— Dana White (@danawhite) March 28, 2016

Since making her UFC debut in April 2014, Smith is 2-2, most recently defeating Rin Nakai via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 85. Throughout her career, Smith has competed at both flyweight (125 pounds) and bantamweight (135 pounds), while Cyborg has performed mostly at featherweight (145 pounds).

UFC 198 is headlined by a heavyweight title fight between Fabricio Werdum and Stipe Miocic.