Strikeforce Women’s Featherweight Champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos has been fined $2500 USD and suspended for one year after testing positive for a stanozolol metabolite prior to her December 17th victory over Hiroko Yamanaka. Santos’s win has now been overturned to a No Decision.
The California State Athletic Commission revealed the news in a release today. Santos was tested shortly before she dispatched of Yamanaka in 16 seconds and a urine sample was then sent to a World Anti-Doping Agency facility for testing. She has the right to appeal her one-year suspension.
Amanda “Powerhouse” Lucas returns to Japan for her third bout under the DEEP banner when she faces Japanese female MMA pioneer Yumiko Hotta at DEEP: “57 Impact” on February 18th in Tokyo. The matchup, which was officially announced today, will be contested for a new DEEP women’s title.
One of MMA’s top female prospects, Ashley “Smashley” Cummins, is set to compete for the second time as a professional on January 28th at NAAFS: “Caged Fury 16” in Morgantown, West Virginia. Cummins faces talented striker Stephanie “Macaquinha” Frausto in a featured bout on the card.
Making a quick return to the cage after his shocking seven-second loss at UFC 140, Canadian featherweight Mark “The Machine” Hominick competes in his home country once again when he faces “The Filipino Phenom” Eddie Yagin at UFC 145 on March 24th in Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Former Strikeforce and DREAM champ Alistair Overeem solidified his spot as a top-three heavyweight in MMA with a first-round destruction of ex-UFC champion Brock Lesnar in the main event of UFC 141. With the impressive win, Overeem will have a chance to capture UFC title gold later this year.
Voting for the 2011 Women’s Mixed Martial Arts Awards has concluded and winners have been crowned in over a dozen categories. With a 4-0 record in 2011 and a significant fan following, Olympic medallist turned MMA star “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey has been named 2011 Female Fighter of the Year.
Japan’s top female fighter, Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii, needed a mere 75 seconds to secure victory in her DREAM debut tonight at DREAM: “Genki Desu Ka! 2011” in Saitama, Japan. Fujii submitted Spanish prospect Karla Benitez with an armbar in the first women’s bout in DREAM history.
DREAM showcased its annual New Year’s Eve card tonight at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. This year’s event, titled “Genki Desu Ka! 2011,” featured a matchup between former long-time PRIDE Heavyweight Champion “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko and Satoshi Ishii.