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Former UFC champ Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino signs with Bellator

LOS ANGELES >> Former UFC featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino has signed with the Bellator promotion.

Bellator announced the move today to acquire one of the most accomplished fighters in women’s mixed martial arts history.

The 34-year-old Justino (21-2, 1 no-contest) went unbeaten in 20 fights over 13 ½ years during an MMA career that began in 2005. After joining the UFC in 2016, she won its inaugural 145-pound belt in July 2017.

But Justino lost her title to two-belt champion Amanda Nunes last December in a stunning 51-second knockout defeat. Justino has feuded openly with UFC President Dana White in recent months, and her UFC contract ended in July.

Bellator President Scott Coker ran the Strikeforce promotion when Justino was its 145-pound champion.

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