Updated

Updated · Sherdog.com · Aug 22

Cris Cyborg Beats Ketlen Vieira 49-46 to Retain PFL Featherweight Title in Final MMA Bout

Updated

Updated · Sherdog.com · Aug 22

Cris Cyborg Beats Ketlen Vieira 49-46 to Retain PFL Featherweight Title in Final MMA Bout

Q: With her PFL contract reportedly finished and retirement looming, was this hard-fought victory the final chapter of Cris Cyborg’s legendary career?

No one can say for certain yet, but it may well have been Cyborg’s final MMA fight — and if it was, she closed with a fitting win rather than a definitive farewell. PFL itself promoted the Ketlen Vieira bout as Cyborg’s “final MMA fight,” and multiple reports said it was the last bout on her current PFL contract. At 41, with retirement long under discussion, the timing clearly points to a possible ending. Saturday’s result also gave her a strong stopping point: a unanimous-decision title defense, a 30th career victory, and an extension of her unbeaten run since the 2018 loss to Amanda Nunes. But Cyborg did not treat the night as a retirement announcement. After beating Vieira 49-46, 48-47 and 49-46 in a competitive five-round fight, she said she was “not a free agent,” said she would rest, and called out Claressa Shields and Kayla Harrison. Before the event, she had also said she did not want the emotions of framing it as her last fight and planned to decide her future only after speaking with her team and family. That leaves her status unresolved. The evidence suggests this was the end of her PFL deal, not necessarily the end of her fighting career. With boxing options, possible free agency, and still enough form to defend her belt against a live opponent, Cyborg has left the door open. If this was the final chapter, it was a credible and meaningful one. It just was not written as an official goodbye.

3 articles · Updated · Sherdog.com · Aug 22

49-46, 48-47, 49-46 — Cris Cyborg beat Ketlen Vieira by unanimous decision in the PFL Tampa main event, retaining the women’s featherweight title in what was billed as her final MMA fight.
7.2 pounds over the 145-pound limit, Vieira was ineligible to win the belt, but still pushed Cyborg through five rounds after Cyborg controlled the first three with jabs, counters and a takedown.
Round 4 and Round 5 turned competitive as Vieira finished one round on top after a throw and ground-and-pound, then spent stretches in top position again before Cyborg closed with hooks, knees and a late right hand.
The win extends Cyborg’s streak to nine fights and caps a PFL Tampa card headlined by a title defense that proved tougher than the scorecards initially suggested.

Sources

Sherdog.com13h ago

Cris Cyborg Wins PFL Women’s Featherweight Title Fight Against Ketlen Vieira

MMAWeekly13h ago

Cris Cyborg defeats Ketlen Vieira in retirement fight - MMA Weekly

MMA Fighting7h ago

PFL Tampa results: Cris Cyborg defends title in hard-fought battle, sends message to Claressa Shields, Kayla Harrison | MMA Fighting

11 Sources

With her PFL contract reportedly finished and retirement looming, was this hard-fought victory the final chapter of Cris Cyborg’s legendary career?

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