Bellator signs Cris Cyborg to ‘biggest contract in women’s MMA history’
Image: MMA Fighting
It didn’t take long for MMA free agent Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino to find a new home as Bellator MMA president Scott Coker announced Monday she has signed an exclusive multi-fight, multi-year deal with the company.
Coker told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani that the deal “is the biggest contract in women’s MMA history.” The amount of fights, guaranteed money, and date/opponent for the 34-year-old’s first fight weren’t announced.
TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter noted on Twitter that Ronda Rousey made $3 million for her UFC 207 fight against then-champion Amanda Nunes.
Shortly following her July UFC 240 win over Felicia Spencer, Dana White announced the company was “out of the Cyborg business” and waived their 90-day exclusive negotiating window, ending a tumultuous yet profile several years between the two sides.
Coker and Justino have done business before in Strikeforce where she rose to prominence, notably in a fight against Gina Carano in August 2009 where she won the promotion’s first women’s featherweight title via first round TKO.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.