Opening door for women in MMA my proudest moment - Cyborg
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- Cris Cyborg identifies her 2009 knockout of Gina Carano to win the Strikeforce featherweight title as her proudest career moment, saying it opened opportunities for women in MMA.
- Gina Carano faced Cris Cyborg in the 2009 fight, the first women's title bout to headline a major event, air live in American primetime, and include five five-minute rounds.
- Cris Cyborg won 21 of her 22 fights over the 17 years after the Carano bout and secured further world titles in promotions including the UFC, Bellator and PFL.
- PFL is where Cyborg is scheduled to defend her featherweight title against Ketlen Vieira in Tampa, Florida, on Saturday; it is the last match-up on her contract and the last in her “legacy tour” series.
- Cris Cyborg has competed in a record 14 women's world-title fights and holds the record for most knockouts by a woman, with 21, ahead of Amanda Nunes's 13.
- Cris Cyborg has six professional boxing victories and has expressed interest in training to become a veterinary surgeon, but has not confirmed that the Vieira fight will be her last.
Why it matters: For women in MMA, the first women's title fight to headline a major event, air on American primetime, and include five five-minute rounds created the opening Cyborg says brought later opportunities. Her 21 knockouts and 21 wins in 22 fights since 2009 establish the scale of the career that followed.
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