TLDR
- Cris Cyborg confirms she will fight MMA again after leaving the Professional Fighters League
- The 41-year-old defeated Ketlen Vieira at PFL Tampa in August, improving her record to 30-2
- Cyborg says her performance against Vieira proved she can still compete with the best fighters
- She is the first and only Grand Slam MMA champion with titles in five major organizations
- Cyborg has gone unbeaten for over seven years with an 18-0 combined record in MMA and boxing since 2018
Sources: sherdog.com | mmasucka.com | 6abc.com
Cris Cyborg has confirmed she will return to mixed martial arts competition after fans believed her recent fight marked the end of her legendary career.
The 41-year-old Brazilian fighter told MMA Sucka in a recent interview that she plans to fight again following her departure from the Professional Fighters League.
“Yes, I will fight MMA again,” Cyborg said. “I think my performance against Ketlen Vieira proved I am still able to compete against the very best in the sport.”
30 WINS FOR CRIS CYBORG 🏆
Cris Cyborg defeats Ketlen Vieira by unanimous decision in what could be one of the final fights of her illustrious career.#PFLTampa presented by @visitspc | 📺LIVE NOW on ESPN pic.twitter.com/9J8QPCSCWy
— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 23, 2026
Cyborg defeated Vieira by unanimous decision at PFL Tampa on August 22. Many fans thought this would be her final MMA fight after a career spanning more than 20 years.
Dominant Performance Against Vieira
The fight showcased Cyborg’s skills despite Vieira missing weight by 7.2 pounds for their scheduled bout. Cyborg won four out of five rounds on all three judges’ scorecards.
“Ketlen was tough and certainly felt extremely strong,” Cyborg said. “But even though she missed weight by over seven pounds, I was able to display great footwork and fight IQ to win four out of the five rounds.”
Cyborg landed nearly double the strikes that Vieira landed during their 25-minute fight. The victory improved her professional record to 30-2.
The Brazilian fighter has not lost a fight in over seven years. Her last defeat came against Amanda Nunes in 2018.
Since that loss, Cyborg has compiled an 18-0 combined record in MMA and boxing. She also defeated Cat Zingano in 2023, who holds a knockout win over Nunes.
Grand Slam Champion Status
Cyborg remains the first and only Grand Slam champion in MMA history. She has won titles in five major organizations: Strikeforce, Invicta FC, UFC, Bellator MMA, and PFL.
When asked about achieving this rare accomplishment, Cyborg emphasized the importance of taking things one step at a time. “I think all goals start with focusing on the first step,” she said.
“I never joined the gym, imagining I was going to go 13 years without a loss and win 20 fights in a row,” Cyborg explained. “I think the focus always needs to be on the next step. One foot in front of another. Consistency is the key to success.”
Cyborg has also found success in professional boxing. She became a WIBA world champion earlier this year and holds an 8-0 record with six knockouts in the sport.
The same championship belt was previously held by boxing legends Laila Ali, Holly Holm, and Amanda Serrano.
Speculation has circulated about where Cyborg might compete next. Some fans have called for her to sign with the newly-founded Ki MMA organization headed by Scott Coker, who previously led Strikeforce where Cyborg once fought.
Others have suggested she could join MVP MMA following the recent PFL-MVP merger. Many UFC fans want to see her return to that organization for a potential fight against Kayla Harrison.
Cyborg even joked about the possibility of facing Harrison in a wrestling match for Real American Freestyle (RAF). “Maybe we will see me vs. Kayla Harrison in RAF one day. Hahaha,” she said.
The fighter also revealed that many people don’t know she started her combat sports career in wrestling in Brazil. She defeated Aline Da Silva Ferreira in wrestling competition before transitioning to MMA.
Cyborg began competing as a professional MMA fighter in 2005. Her combination of longevity and success at the highest levels has made her one of the sport’s most respected champions.
