With Ediane Gomes Injured, ‘Cyborg’ Santos Meets Fiona Muxlow at Invicta FC 5

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Women’s featherweight talent Ediane Gomes has suffered a rib injury and will be unable to face Cristiane Santos as expected at Invicta FC 5.

Invicta Fighting Championships announced the news Tuesday, revealing that Australian Fiona Muxlow will compete in Gomes’ stead at the April 5 event, which takes place at Ameristar Casino Hotel in Kansas City, Mo.

The event is headlined by an atomweight title confrontation between reigning champion Jessica Penne and 13-fight pro Michelle Waterson. The evening’s main draw will also feature former Strikeforce bantamweight queen Sarah Kaufman locking horns with Leslie Smith, while ex-Bellator strawweight titlist Zoila Frausto Gurgel faces Jennifer Maia.

Santos, 27, will fight for the first time since December 2011, when she knocked out Hiroko Yamanaka in just 16 seconds before watching that result changed to a no-contest in the wake of a positive steroid test. “Cyborg” was then stripped of her Strikeforce featherweight crown by Zuffa and suspended for one year by the California State Athletic Commission. Known for her violent striking and finishing ability, the Brazilian owns eight of her 10 victories by way of knockout.

Like Cyborg, Muxlow will make her Invicta debut on April 5. The Aussie saw a three-fight winning streak snapped in her most recent outing on New Year’s Eve, when she was submitted by onetime Strikeforce titlist Marloes Coenen at Dream 18 in Japan. The 35-year-old has finished three of her six career victims by way of submission and has yet to be knocked out in eight pro appearances.