Cyborg defends PFL title vs. Vieira in retirement fight
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- PFL announced Cris Cyborg will defend her women's featherweight title against Ketlen Vieira in the main event of PFL Tampa on Aug. 22, marking Cyborg's retirement fight.
- Cyborg (29-2, 1 NC) won the PFL title in December by submitting previously unbeaten Sara Collins via rear-naked choke — only her second career submission in a run built on 21 knockouts.
- The 40-year-old Brazilian has competed in MMA only once per year over the past five years while simultaneously building a 7-0 professional boxing record.
- Cyborg began her MMA career in 2005 and went unbeaten across her next 21 bouts over 13 years, including a first-round knockout of Gina Carano in 2009 — the first time two women headlined a major MMA card.
- Cyborg won the UFC title in 2017, defended it twice, then lost to Amanda Nunes by knockout in 2018 and has reeled off nine straight wins since.
- Cyborg is targeting career win number 30, writing on Instagram: "No other female in MMA has 30 career victories."
- Vieira (16-5), who defeated former UFC champions Holly Holm and Miesha Tate at bantamweight, parted ways with the UFC in May after her contract expired and announced her PFL signing Tuesday.
Why it matters: Cyborg's farewell offers a rare milestone opportunity: at 29 career wins, she is one victory from becoming the first woman in MMA history to reach 30 — a benchmark the promotion can now market directly into a title-buy showcase at PFL Tampa.
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