Cris Cyborg re-signs with Bellator

Mixed martial arts fans around the world were buzzing with excitement as Bellator MMA announced that Cris Cyborg had re-signed with the promotion. The news has set up a potential showdown between Cyborg and Cat Zingano for the Bellator Women's Featherweight Championship.

Cyborg, who has established herself as one of the most dominant fighters in the history of the sport. Being among the best in the world, the fans were waiting for a potential matchup with fellow featherweight standout Kayla Harrison.

However, with Harrison currently competing in the Professional Fighters League, that fight remains a distant dream as Cyborg's free agency comes to an end. Cyborg kept herself occupied with two successful boxing bouts in the last quarter of the year while she investigated free agency.

Despite the long absence, Cyborg wasted no time in getting back into the Bellator cage, quickly re-signing with the promotion that has been her home since 2020. And with Zingano waiting in the wings, fans can expect a thrilling matchup between two of the best female fighters in the world.

“After receiving multiple offers from several promotions I’m very happy that I was able to come to terms with Bellator and remain the face of their women’s featherweight division,” Cyborg said in the press release. “Scott Coker is a promoter that I’ve worked with and respected for many years. He’s done so much to further women’s MMA and gives us a platform to showcase our skills.

“When making this decision, it was important to me that I was signing with the organization that I felt had the biggest names and the top talent at 145 pounds for me to challenge myself against. There is no question that all the top female featherweights are signed with Bellator and I can’t wait to get back in there and defend my belt.”

Nobody Cyborg has ever held championships in Bellator, the UFC, Invicta, and Strikeforce. She went almost 13 years undefeated before being shocked by UFC women's bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, who upped the weight to pursue a second championship. Following that, Cyborg captured another UFC win. She then switched to Bellator and won the championship there.

Zingano, who made her Bellator debut with a stunning victory over Gabby Holloway, has been eyeing a shot at the featherweight title since signing with the promotion last year. She presents a formidable challenge for Cyborg, who will be looking to defend her title and cement her status as the top fighter in the division.

Zingano is running on a 4-0 undefeated streak since joining Bellator. Her last outing was against Leah McCourt in which Zingano prevailed via unanimous decision at Bellator 293.

As for Zingano, the matchup with Cyborg is a chance to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a champion in a major MMA promotion. With a resume that includes victories over some of the top female fighters in the world, she is more than capable of pulling off the upset and capturing the title.

With the stage set for a showdown between two of the best female fighters in the world, fans of the sport can expect an unforgettable night of action. Whether Cyborg retains her title or Zingano pulls off the upset, one thing is for sure - this fight will be talked about for years to come.