Cris Cyborg Santos Signs with Invicta FC, Debuts Against Ediane Gomes

Former Strikeforce champion Cris "Cyborg" Santos has officially signed on with Invicta Fighting Championships and will debut with the promotion at their upcoming show on April 5.

Santos made the announcement along with her manager former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz on Friday night at a press conference attended by Bleacher Report at the Punishment Training Center in California.

The former 145-pound champion will meet Ediane "India" Gomes at the upcoming Invicta 5 show happening in Kansas City, MO in early April.

Gomes was already scheduled to be on the card against former Strikeforce fighter Julia Budd, but she will now face Santos instead.

The last year for Cris Cyborg has been anything but pleasant after testing positive for anabolic steroids after her last fight against Hiroko Yamanaka. She was subsequently suspended for one year by the California State Athletic Commission.

Since that time, Cyborg has been in a constant battle for a potential fight against UFC bantamweight women's champion Ronda Rousey, but with the fight only being offered at 135 pounds, the Brazilian has not taken the bout.

Cyborg has stated on several occasions that there's no way she could cut the additional weight to move down to 135 pounds, and that statement has negated her potential signing with the UFC.

Earlier this week, Cyborg received her official release from Zuffa (parent company of the UFC and Strikeforce) allowing her to sign with a different promotion.

Now the former Strikeforce champion has joined forces with Invicta Fighting Championships on a deal that will see her return to the cage for the first time in more than a year.

Santos will face fellow 145-pound fighter Ediane Gomes, who comes into the fight on a four-fight win streak with victories over Hiroko Yamanaka and Leslie Smith.

The winner of Santos vs. Gomes will then go on to meet Marloes Coenen in a 145-pound title fight later this year as confirmed by Invicta FC officials on Friday.

Invicta 5 goes down on April 5 from the Ameristar Casino Hotel in Kansas City, MO where Cyborg vs. Gomes joins two title fights headlining the show as well with Jessica Penne taking on Michelle Waterson, while Vanessa Porto faces Barb Honchak.

Damon Martin is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report