If this is the end of Cris Cyborg’s career, she ends with 30 wins in professional MMA, defeating Ketlen Vieira to stay PFL women’s featherweight champion in the PFL Tampa main event.
Cyborg circled to start the action, as she looked to work her jab on Vieira’s body, taking early control of the action. Vieira, meanwhile, looked for early pressure, coming forward against the champion.
Cyborg stayed on the outside in round two, going in to focus on body shots or land powerful overhands. Vieira continuously tried to press Cyborg toward the fence, working her own punches. Late in the round, Cyborg’s leg kicks did their damage, forcing Vieira to switch stances, but the two got into a power-punch exchange in the closing seconds.
Cyborg caught a kick early in the third, taking the fight to the ground in Vieira’s guard. Cyborg looked to do so damage, but Vieira found her footing back a couple of minutes into the round. Cyborg continued to find the mark with her powerful punching, but a low blow brought the fight to a halt. The two had another power exchange in the clinch.
Cyborg continued to work Vieira over from distance in the fourth round as she continued to attack Vieira’s body. Vieira, however, managed to score a takedown and found success with strikes from the top.
The fight quickly went to the ground in round five, as Vieira threatened a kimura before using it to get back to the feet. The fight would wind up back on the ground, but this time with Vieira on top, and both Cyborg and Vieira looking to land ground strikes from respective positions.
Cyborg got back to the feet with 90 seconds left, looking to attack the body again as she came forward on Vieira. The two had one more strong exchange before the bell.
Cyborg took the decision with scores of 49-46 from two judges and 48-47 from the remaining one.
Cyborg was only eligible to retain or lose the title following Vieira’s seven-pound weight miss.
Cyborg teased a fight with Kayla Harrison, the UFC women’s bantamweight champion and former PFL champion who was in the stands watching, after Harrison’s upcoming matchup with Amanda Nunes.
Cyborg is the only professional MMA athlete with championship wins in five major MMA promotions (Strikeforce, Invicta, UFC, Bellator, and PFL). Her only losses came in her 2005 pro MMA debut and against Nunes at UFC 232.
