Strikeforce Women's Champion Cristiane Santos has been forced to bow out of a possible title defense at the upcoming "Fedor vs. Rogers" event on CBS after a shoulder injury suffered in her September ADCC match did not heal in time for the Nov. 7 event, according to Sherdog.com.
After losing to American Penny Thomas in the semifinals of the 2009 Abu Dhabi Combat Club in the +60kg weight class, "Cyborg" finished the tournament with a win over fellow Brazilian Rosângela Conceição to take third place.
Santos captured the vacant Strikeforce title with a first round stoppage over female fighting sensation Gina Carano at the August 15 "Carano vs. Cyborg" event from San Jose.
She was expected to defend the belt against either Marlos Coenen or Erin Toughill at the upcoming televised event from the Sears Centre, however the injury will likely push that bout to the end of the year or early 2010.
Santos will undergo rehabilitation to treat the injured shoulder and does not require surgery.
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