Exclusive: Cris Cyborg Talks PFL Title Fight, Nunes-Harrison and Post-MMA Plans
Newsweek got an exclusive with PFL Featherweight champ Cris Cyborg, who spoke about her fight against Ketlen Viera and more.
Cris Cyborg will face former top UFC bantamweight contender Ketlen Viera in what appears to be her final fight on August 22. In an interview with Newsweek, Cyborg discussed her career, present state of MMA, and her plans after retirement. Despite rumors of her retirement, Cyborg emphasized that the featherweight title fight may not be her last.
She expressed her enjoyment of fighting at 41 years old, stating that she's in better shape now than at 21. Cyborg praised Kevin Vieira, the reigning PFL champion, and highlighted the importance of her fight against him. When MMA was first introduced to her, Cyborg drew inspiration from women's kickboxing champion Lucia Rijker and fighters like Fedor Emelianenko and Ernest Hoost.
She believed in bringing women's MMA to the same level as men's and aimed to produce exciting fights. Cyborg predicted that Amanda Nunes, who may face Kayla Harrison in the fall, would likely win against Kayla Harrison if she successfully defended against her take-downs due to her superior stand-up skills. As for her post-MMA plans, Cyborg shared that she loves animals and hopes to pursue a career in veterinary school, inspired by her childhood dream.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
