Cristiane Justino Venancio Santos was born on July 9, 1985. Cristiane Santos is a Brazilian mixed martial artist (MMA). Cristiane Santos currently trains at the Chute Boxe Academy alongside her husband Evangelista Santos. Both she and her husband share the nickname "Cyborg". On August 15, 2009, Santos defeated Gina Carano by TKO for the inaugural Strikeforce Women's Championship (145 lb), making her the first women's champion in that promotion's history.
Cristiane Santos made her anticipated United States MMA debut on July 26, 2008 against Shayna Baszler at EliteXC: Unfinished Business, whom she defeated by TKO.
Cristiane Santos was scheduled to face Dutch submission specialist Marloes Coenen at XMMA 7 on February 27, 2009, but backed out of the fight after signing a new contract with Strikeforce.
Cristiane Santos has recently signed to fight for Strikeforce. Signing with Strikeforce greatly increased the chance that a fight with Gina Carano would take place. On April 11, 2009, an overweight Santos defeated Hitomi Akano in the debut show of Strikeforce. Cristiane Santos fought Gina Carano on August 15, 2009 at Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg for the Women's Championship (145 lb). Cristiane Santos won via TKO at 4:59 of the 5:00 first round. The card was the first major promotion to feature a main-event between women.