Cyborg Outpoints Vieira, Who Missed Weight, at PFL Tampa

Cris Cyborg retained her PFL featherweight title at PFL Tampa with a unanimous decision over Ketlen Vieira, in a bout that could be her last for the promotion and perhaps her last in MMA. The judges scored it 49-46, 48-47 and 49-46.

The bout was thrown into doubt when Vieira missed weight by just over seven pounds. Cyborg chose to accept the fight anyway, because she did not want the chance to defend her belt taken away. Vieira could not win the title that night, but Cyborg could still lose it.

A size gap that showed in the cage

Vieira pressed forward early while Cyborg countered and mixed in kicks. In round two Vieira stood toe-to-toe with the champion, and the two traded a quick, violent exchange before clinching. Round three finally went to the ground with Cyborg on top, though a low knee later forced a break in the action.

In round four Cyborg chopped at Vieira's lead leg and worked the body with her jab. Vieira ended up on top late in that round and landed some serious damage. Cyborg's corner suggested the fight was tied 2-2 going into the fifth.

Cyborg took Vieira down early in the last round, but Vieira got back up and then put Cyborg on the mat herself, keeping her pinned without doing much damage. With about a minute left Cyborg got up and landed a right hand, then threw knees in the clinch. The last strike of the fight was an overhand right from the champion.

What she said afterward

Cyborg is 41, and this right hand may have been the final punch of her MMA career. She has signaled that she intends to keep competing as a boxer. Asked what comes next, she said: "I'm ready for anybody. I'm a free agent, I'm excited. Eight years undefeated. I'm ready for anybody. Any time, any weight."

Before any new fight, she is about to become a grandmother, with her daughter expecting a son any day. She again called for a fight with Claressa Shields and then pointed to UFC champion Kayla Harrison, who was sitting cageside.

Source: Cageside Press