For decades, sports has always been dominated by men and while women have often competed in sports, few manage to achieve the success their male counterparts have been able to achieve. Over the years, things have changed. Women have now made their mark in many different competitive sports and some have achieved success that sometimes exceed their male counterparts. Golf has Annika Sorenstam while tennis has athletes such as Maria Sharapova and the Williams Sisters. Datuk Nicol David dominates the world of squash while Laila Ali paved way for a new generation of female boxers to make way into the sport of boxing.

This weekend, a new breed of female athletes will take center stage when Strikeforce presents Carano vs. Cyborg live at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. While a Strikeforce Interim Lightweight Title fight and a huge Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Title fight will take place on the same evening, all eyes will be on the main event to crown the first-ever Strikeforce Women’s Champion as the top two female fighters in the world collide to create history. It will be a dream match as Gina Carano takes on Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos for the Strikeforce Women’s Title!

Strikeforce Women’s Title: Gina Carano vs. Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos

There’s no denying that people would immediately point out to Gina Carano as the face of women’s MMA. Combining beauty with her solid Muay Thai skills and improved wrestling with the help of Randy Couture, Carano is quickly becoming one of the top female athletes in the world and a huge influence to women around the world each time she steps into the cage. She is currently undefeated in MMA with a perfect 7-0 record. This wouldn’t be the first time Carano ever competed in Strikeforce as she was last seen at Strikeforce: Triple Threat back in December 2006 where she picked up a victory against Elaina Maxwell. Her big break came in February 2007 when she defeated Julie Kedzie in an exciting bout at EliteXC: Destiny in a match that many touted as the best of the night. It was an important night for women’s MMA to be shown on a much larger scale with the fight being televised on Showtime. She continued to pick up key victories against Tonya Evinger and Kaitlin Young, then at EliteXC’s final event before the promotion closed doors, Carano fended off a very tough challenge from Kelly Kobold.

Much like her opponent, Cristiane Santos also has seven straight wins under her belt. However, her only blemish came from her very first MMA fight where she was submitted by Erica Paes in the first round. Santos fought a majority of her MMA fights in Curitiba, Brazil, home of the current UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, but it wasn’t until last year when she decided to make her mark on American soil. Like Carano, Santos was also signed under EliteXC and fought twice during her time in the ill-fated promotion. At EliteXC: Unfinished Business, Santos TKOed Shayna Baszler, then in one of the night’s preliminary bouts at EliteXC’s final event, EliteXC: Heat, Santos was able to defeat Japanese fighter Yoko Takahashi. After EliteXC folded, Santos quickly signed up under Strikeforce where she participated in Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz and defeated another highly touted Japanese fighter, Hitomi Akano. Combining a fearless presence with dangerous strikes, Santos would provide Carano with a very tough challenge come fight time.

Conviction vs. Cyborg! History in the making!

If there is any doubt that women’s MMA isn’t as big as it should be, then this fight would silence the doubters once and for all. Gina Carano and Cristiane Santos are both a part of history as both women will headline an MMA event, a rare feat considering the other two title fights on the card. No other promotion has ever done anything quite like what Strikeforce did when they announce the fight as it would be a fight which would showcase the power and the rise of women’s MMA in the world. For a fight of this magnitude, Strikeforce couldn’t have picked two perfect fighters to compete for their Strikeforce Women’s Title.

Both Carano and Santos are ranked as the top two female fighters in the world and both have their own respective fanbase. Many MMA fans around the world can tell you how much they would love to see a fight between these two women take place as it would finally determine who truly is the top female fighter in the world today. Many debates and opinions over the MMA message boards have taken place with fans going back and forth as to why either woman would win or lose, but this weekend, all the questions will finally be answered and it will truly be an unforgettable night in the world of MMA.

Carano and Santos will finally collide after many months of anticipation and the world will finally get their questions answered when Strikeforce presents Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg!