Cris Cyborg could not provide a definitive answer about her fighting future after PFL Tampa.
In what was originally touted as her MMA retirement bout, Cyborg (30-2) defended her PFL women’s featherweight title on Saturday with a unanimous decision over Ketlen Vieira (16-6) at Benchmark International Arena in Florida.
The definitive nature on what the contest meant was swayed throughout fight week. Cyborg did not lay her gloves down after the win, and made it clear post-fight that she would take her time with the process.
“I want to take a little break and see what’s going to happen,” Cyborg told reporters backstage at PFL Tampa. “All this 21 years of training and all these things that happened in my life, it’s a learning process. Even today in this fight I learned a lot of things.
“Twenty-one years I’m at the top, titles on the line and in the main event. I’m very grateful. I’m excited for what the future can be. I am a fighter now, but I have a lot of plans for the future at just 41 years old. The 41 now is the new 21 years old.”
Cyborg, who has held belts in UFC, PFL, Bellator, Invicta FC and Strikeforce during her storied career, completed her PFL contract with the win over Vieira. Whether she goes out on top remains to be seen, but it’s clear there after fights of interest.
The Brazilian didn’t dismiss a boxing match with Claressa Shields or UFC showdowns with Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison, however, all of those options might be long shots. So if this turns out to be the end, Cyborg won’t be disappointed.
“I don’t know if I’m going to have a fight again,” Cyborg said. “I’m 41 years old. … I wanted to 30 victories in my career. No woman did this. I’m very happy to have broken one more record.”
