Exclusive: Strikeforce Womens Middleweight Champ Cris Cyborg is Officially a Free Agent and Is Close to Coming to Terms With a New Promotion Well, Cris Cyborg Santos is officially a free agent, which either means that Strikeforce was unwilling to pay her what she felt she was worth, or that Zuffa has decided against continuing to promote womens MMA under the SF banner. Either way, its a blow to the promotions womens division. A source we spoke to today received confirmation from Cyborgs management that Zuffas exclusive negotiation period with the 10-1 Curitiba, Brazil fighter ended yesterday and that the parent company of Strikeforce and the UFC failed to come to terms with the Strikeforce womens middleweight champ before she became a free agent at the stroke of midnight. According to Santos former manager Ken Pavia who helped negotiate the deal that was fulfilled with her last fight with Jan Finney on June 26, 2010, there was a champions clause in her contract, which he said he thought would extend her deal. But according to another we spoke to who is close to the situation, the clause had a one-year expiration date and when Strikeforce failed to re-sign her or offer her a fight by June 26, they waived their right to exercise the option. You may recall that former Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields had a similar proviso in his contract, but when Scott Coker and co. figured there was little chance of resigning him, they granted him a release rather than make him sit out the one-year waiting period. Were told that Cris is in serious discussions with a promotion that weve been asked not to name until the deal is finalized and that she could have a new contract in place as early as this weekend. Wherever Gina Carano is, shes thanking her lucky stars. We will have updates the situation when we are given the go-ahead to release them by the parties involved.
That's a damn shame. UFC ain't ready for Cyborg. She's just active at the wrong time. Not enough challenge for her.
Not for women's MMA. It's only a matter of time before Zuffa dissolves Strikeforce and mainstream WMMA is dead.
Good I dont wanna watch that bull**** I just wanna watch Gina do her little strip wiggle at the weigh ins Thats must see TV
I stopped watching womens mma after one of them said she couldnt make weight cos of PMS. What kind of bollocks is that? But in all honesty, its scary watching Cyborg fight, i rememebr they put her in with a japanese featherweight, was it akano? and that was ****ing bear baiting. Its obvious from her facial structure PEDS r in play, and she should be forced to fight bigger girls.