Cris Cyborg

Cris Cyborg, born Cristiane Justino Venâncio on July 9, 1985, in Curitiba, Brazil, is a Brazilian-American mixed martial artist, kickboxer, and boxer. She currently competes in the Women's Featherweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where she became the inaugural PFL Women's Featherweight World Champion. In boxing, she holds the WIBA Light Middleweight World Champion title. Cyborg is widely regarded as one of the greatest female fighters in MMA history, known for her relentless pressure, devastating knockout power, and a career that spans multiple top promotions. She is the only fighter, male or female, to hold world championships across five major MMA organizations: UFC, Strikeforce, Invicta FC, Bellator MMA, and PFL. A pioneer for women in combat sports, she continues to compete actively in the PFL and boxing as of 2026.[edit]

Cris Cyborg grew up in a humble household in Curitiba, Brazil, where her father worked as a bricklayer and her mother as a housewife. As a hyperactive child, she played football and handball, even winning a state championship in handball during high school. At age 12, she began training in Muay Thai to lose weight and channel her energy. By 17, she was competing professionally in Muay Thai, amassing a record of 20-1 before transitioning to mixed martial arts. She won the IKF World Muay Thai title in 2008. Her early MMA career in Brazil saw her win her first four fights by first-round TKO or KO. She caught the attention of promoter Ed Soares, who helped bring her to the United States to train with the Chute Boxe team and later the Black House camp. She holds a degree in Physical Education from a Brazilian university.[edit]

Cyborg's breakthrough came on August 15, 2009, when she faced Gina Carano in the first major women's MMA main event on CBS. She won by first-round TKO, becoming the inaugural Strikeforce Women's Featherweight Champion. She defended that title three times before Strikeforce folded in 2013. She then signed with Invicta FC, winning their featherweight championship by defeating Marloes Coenen. In 2015, she joined the UFC, where she defeated Tonya Evinger on July 29, 2017, to win the vacant UFC Women's Featherweight Championship. She defended the belt against Holly Holm and Yana Kunitskaya in 2018 before losing the title to Amanda Nunes at UFC 232 in December 2018. After leaving the UFC in 2020, she signed with Bellator MMA and won the Bellator Women's Featherweight Championship in her debut by defeating Julia Budd. She defended the Bellator title twice before signing with the Professional Fighters League in 2023. On November 24, 2023, she defeated Larissa Pacheco via unanimous decision to win the $1 million prize and become the inaugural PFL Women's Featherweight Champion. In boxing, she won the WIBA Light Middleweight World Champion title in 2023. She holds a Guinness World Record for most consecutive wins in women's MMA championship fights (11). She has won multiple awards including Women's MMA Fighter of the Year (2009, 2016, 2017) and Female Fighter of the Year at the ESPYs (2010, 2017).[edit]

Cyborg is known for her aggressive, pressure-based striking style with devastating power, particularly her body punches. Media portrayals often highlight her as a dominant, intimidating force inside the cage but a warm, family-oriented person outside of it. She is widely recognized as a pioneer for women in combat sports. Her fans, sometimes called "Cyborg Nation," regularly chant her name during walkouts. On social media, she posts in both Portuguese and English, mixing training videos, fight announcements, and personal family moments. She has approximately 2.1 million Instagram followers, 350,000 Twitter followers, 1.5 million Facebook followers, and 50,000 YouTube subscribers.[edit]

In the pantheon of combat sports, Cris Cyborg occupies a singular position. Her fame is built on an unprecedented competitive record: she is the only fighter, male or female, to have held world championships in five major MMA organizations, and her 29-2-0 record with 21 knockouts is a benchmark of sustained dominance. Yet, despite this global recognition, iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated Cyborg and found that she does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings, neither in the Global Top 1,000 nor in any Top-100 scope list. This absence is notable for an athlete of her stature, but it reflects the engine's focus on contemporary cross-demographic visibility rather than historical achievement.

Her fandom, however, is unmistakably organized. Known officially as "#CYBORGNATION," her supporters are a vocal and loyal contingent, mobilizing around her fights and celebrating her as a pioneer of women's MMA. The fanbase's identity is closely tied to her nickname, which originated from a coach's comment that she trained like a machine, a label she embraced and transformed into a badge of honor. With over a million Instagram followers and active engagement across platforms, Cyborg's digital presence is substantial, yet her fans are not known for viral promotional stunts or coordinated campaigns. Instead, their devotion manifests in consistent support, from waving Brazilian flags during her walkouts to chanting her name in arenas. As she prepares for what may be her final fight, the Cyborg Nation stands ready to honor a legend whose impact transcends rankings.[edit]

Cyborg's nickname was originally a derogatory term used by a coach who said she trained like a machine; she embraced it. She holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a black prajied in Muay Thai. She is a devout Christian and often credits her faith for her success. She was a high school state champion in handball in Brazil. Her entrance music is typically a Brazilian samba or heavy rock, and fans often wave Brazilian flags during her walkouts. She is a vocal advocate for fighter pay and women's sports. She was featured on the cover of ESPN The Magazine as "The Baddest Woman on the Planet" in 2017.

One of the most enduring legends in MMA is the "superfight" between Cyborg and Ronda Rousey, a match that was teased for years but never materialized during Rousey's prime. As of August 2026, Cyborg still publicly expresses interest in facing Rousey, keeping the myth alive. Similarly, a potential crossover bout with boxing champion Claressa Shields has been a topic of speculation, with Cyborg expressing openness to the fight. Her upcoming bout on August 22, 2026, against Ketlen Vieira is framed as her farewell, though she has "cooled retirement talk," adding another layer to her storied career.[edit]

Cyborg was married to fellow MMA fighter Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos from 2011 until their divorce in 2016. She took his nickname as her professional surname. She has no biological children but raised her stepchildren from Santos's previous relationship during their marriage. She married Ray Elbe, a personal trainer and strength coach, in 2018. They reside in San Diego, California, where she operates her gym, Cyborg Academy. Her parents were a bricklayer father and a housewife mother.[edit]

Cyborg has faced top opponents including Gina Carano, Holly Holm, Amanda Nunes, Marloes Coenen, Julia Budd, and Larissa Pacheco. She has trained under coaches Jason Parillo (boxing) and Colin Oyama (MMA), with strength and conditioning by her husband Ray Elbe. Promoters Scott Coker and Ed Soares have been key figures in her career.[edit]

Cyborg married fellow MMA fighter Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos in 2011. They met through the MMA community in Brazil, and she adopted his nickname as her professional surname. The marriage ended in divorce in 2016, though she has stated the split was amicable and they remain friends. During the marriage, she was a stepmother to his children from a previous relationship. In 2018, she married Ray Elbe, a personal trainer and strength coach she met in San Diego. They held a private ceremony and have no children together. Elbe is often seen in her corner during fights and training camps. As of 2026, she remains married to Elbe.[edit]

As of 2026, iFANN's editorial analysis estimates Cris Cyborg's net worth at $4 million. Her income streams are diverse. During her UFC tenure, she earned disclosed base salaries of around $500,000 to $600,000 per fight, including win bonuses and PPV points. Her 2023 PFL tournament victory netted her a $1 million prize. She has endorsement deals with Reebok, Monster Energy, and Brazilian brands, plus a partnership with the supplement company Bodyshape. She owns and operates Cyborg Academy, a gym in San Diego, California, which generates revenue from memberships and personal training. She also owns a home in San Diego.[edit]

Cyborg has won multiple Fighter of the Year awards from the World MMA Awards and ESPYs. She has held world championships in five major MMA promotions: Strikeforce, Invicta FC, UFC, Bellator, and PFL. She also won the WIBA Light Middleweight World Champion title in boxing.[edit]