Cris Cyborg stands as one of the most decorated female fighters in mixed martial arts history, often mentioned in the same breath as Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko when discussing the sport`s greatest of all time. Cyborg has earned the unique distinction of being an `MMA Grand Slam` champion, capturing titles in major organizations including the UFC, PFL, Bellator, Strikeforce, and Invicta. The featherweight icon recently added the PFL championship to her collection by defeating Larissa Pacheco.
Over a career spanning 31 fights and nearly two decades, during which she faced notable opponents like Gina Carano, Holly Holm, and Marloes Coenen, Cyborg`s only loss since 2005 was a quick 51-second TKO defeat to Amanda Nunes at UFC 232. This highly anticipated clash remains one of the biggest fights in women`s MMA history.
As Cyborg prepares for her own retirement, with just two fights remaining in her current PFL contract, reports indicate that her former rival, Amanda Nunes, is considering a return to the UFC after retiring in June 2023.
Cris Cyborg Reacts to Amanda Nunes Hinting at UFC Return
Amanda Nunes announced her retirement following her dominant victory over Irene Aldana at UFC 289, marking her 11th successful UFC title fight appearance. However, just last month, Nunes publicly stated her intention to potentially end her retirement to face the winner of the upcoming bantamweight title fight between Julianna Peña and Kayla Harrison at UFC 316.
Commenting on Nunes` potential comeback, Cris Cyborg shared her perspective: “I saw she’s saying that she’s gonna come back and maybe fight between Peña and Kayla,” Cyborg told Bloody Elbow. “When you’re a fighter, you always want to fight, you know? I believe she still has the fire in her heart to come back. Let’s see what’s gonna be her next exciting fight.”
Looking ahead to her own immediate plans, the 39-year-old veteran mentioned having two more PFL fights before concluding her MMA career. Beyond that, Cyborg expressed a desire to pursue a boxing world title. She is scheduled to compete in a boxing match this weekend at Fight Night San Jose against Precious Harris-McCray.
Cris Cyborg`s Prediction for Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison at UFC 316
The upcoming UFC 316 event on June 7th features Julianna Peña defending her bantamweight title against newcomer Kayla Harrison. Cyborg noted that Harrison, a former PFL champion, is making her UFC debut and her first appearance at the 135 lbs bantamweight limit after competing at higher weights. Julianna Peña recently reclaimed the title in a split decision bout and is notably the only fighter to defeat Amanda Nunes in the last decade, achieving a memorable upset in 2021. Kayla Harrison comes from an elite grappling background, holding two Olympic Gold Medals in Judo.
Offering her thoughts on the Peña vs. Harrison matchup, Cyborg predicted: “This fight is gonna finish, like quick. I think Julianna Peña has everything to beat Kayla.” She elaborated, suggesting Peña could “defend the takedown” effectively and utilize techniques against a judo-based opponent where “you can take the back easier.”
While not expecting a single knockout blow (“I don’t think she’s gonna finish one punch”), Cyborg sees potential for a submission finish from either competitor. She anticipates a “little war” over five rounds, highlighting that factors like cardio and mental preparedness will be key to determining the winner in what she believes will be a great fight.
Gareth Tenby