Cris Cyborg

Background and Early Life

Born Cristiane Justino Venâncio on July 9, 1985, in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, Cyborg began her athletic journey as a handball player. Her transition to MMA started when she was discovered by Rudimar Fedrigo, founder and head coach at Brazil’s renowned Chute Boxe Academy. Recognizing her athletic potential and physical prowess, Fedrigo offered her a free Muay Thai class, setting her on a path that would lead to international acclaim in the fight world.

Mixed Martial Arts Career and Milestones

Before joining the UFC, Cyborg built a formidable reputation in organizations like Strikeforce and Invicta Fighting Championships, where she held championship titles. In March 2015, she signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), bringing her elite fighting skills to the sport’s largest stage. She won her first two UFC bouts, improving her professional record to 16-1.

On July 29, 2017, Cyborg captured the vacant UFC Women’s Featherweight Championship by defeating Tonya Evinger at UFC 214. She went on to defend her title successfully against Holly Holm in December 2017 and Yana Kunitskaya in March 2018, extending her record to 20-1-0. Later that year, she faced UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes at UFC 232 in what was billed as a historic super-fight. Nunes defeated Cyborg via first-round knockout, handing her only the second loss of her professional career.