Cris Cyborg’s Next Fight Announced, Questions Still Remain About Her Weight & UFC Status

On Monday, Invcita FC Featherweight Champion Cris Cyborg's next fight was made official, yet questions still remain about what weight she will be fighting at and whether or not she is any closer to fighting in the UFC. Cyborg (14-1-1 NC) will be going one-on-one against Cindy Dandois (6-2), a teammate of UFC Women's Bantamweight contender and former Strikeforce Women's Champion Miesha Tate, as Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp announced that the two will be headlining the Invicta FC 15 event. Although the fight was made official by Knapp during her appearance on Ariel Helwani's "MMA Hour" program, there are still questions remaining about her weight and her UFC status. While Knapp claimed it "could" be Cyborg's first attempt to fight at a 140-pound catch weight, she also noted that her opponent and weight class for her next fight is "subject to change." Cyborg, who signed a contract with Zuffa and has been told she will not fight inside the Octagon unless she can make 135 pounds, is expected to leave the 145 pound division, where she is currently the Invicta FC champion, to attempt to reach 135 pounds to make her eligible to compete in the UFC Women's Bantamweight division. A fight between Cyborg and former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey seemed to be on the horizon, with the only issue being Cyborg's weight until Rousey was brutally knocked out by the new unbeaten UFC Women's 135-pound champion Holly Holm at UFC 193 last Saturday in Melbourne, Australia. Whether or not the UFC plans to put together a Cyborg vs. Rousey bout anyway, or a Cyborg vs. Holm title fight remains to be seen. Invicta FC 15 is scheduled to take place at The Hangar at the Orange County Fair & Events Center in Costa Mesa, California on Saturday, January 16, 2015, and will air live on UFC Fight Pass.