Cris Cyborg Wavers on Retirement Ahead of PFL Tampa

Cris Cyborg is no longer committing to retirement after her PFL Tampa main event against Ketlen Vieira on August 22, walking back the finality of a plan she has repeated for two years.

The PFL women's featherweight champion had long said 2026 would close out her fighting career, and the Vieira fight is still the last bout on her current PFL contract. But in a new interview with MMA Junkie Radio, Cyborg declined to say the Vieira fight will be her last appearance in the cage. "This could be my last fight, but this is my last fight in my contract," she said, adding that she is "not sure what's going to happen after."

Why Cyborg Is Suddenly Open to Fighting On

Cyborg pointed to her physical form as the reason she's leaving the door open. "I know I'm fighting better than when I was 21 years. I feel better at 41 than 21," she said, crediting smart training and recovery for letting her compete at a high level well past the age most strikers start declining.

The bigger factor, though, is business. Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions is merging with PFL at the end of the year, and Cyborg framed that deal as a potential path to fights she has chased for years without success. "It was amazing what happened with MVP merging with PFL," she said. "I think then, together, we can be strong. It can be amazing for mixed martial arts." She also referenced Paul's open pitch to free agents: "Even Jake Paul is saying, 'If you guys are free agents, come to me, I'm going to make you make money.'"

That matters because Cyborg's résumé still has a hole in it. Her run over the last six years has come against solid but not marquee names like Larissa Pacheco, Cat Zingano, Leslie Smith and Julia Budd, while a rematch with Amanda Nunes, a fight with Kayla Harrison, or a long-rumored crossover with Ronda Rousey never materialized. Her boxing ambitions stalled the same way, with a proposed matchup against Claressa Shields never coming together.

What This Means for the Vieira Fight and Beyond

Cyborg defends her title against Vieira in the main event of PFL Tampa on August 22, and for now that remains her only confirmed date. She was careful not to overstate her openness to continuing, saying only "maybe" she keeps fighting and that she isn't sure it will happen. The retirement talk hasn't gone away, it's just no longer treated as settled.

For bettors, the retirement uncertainty shouldn't move the number on fight night. Cyborg is expected to enter as a heavy favorite over Vieira given the gap in power and finishing ability at 145 pounds, and nothing in her comments changes the gameplan for August 22. The more interesting long-term market angle is what a healthy PFL-MVP partnership could do to Cyborg's next fight odds if it finally produces a Harrison or Nunes rematch, matchups that would draw real crossover betting interest that her recent title defenses haven't generated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cris Cyborg retiring after PFL Tampa?

Cris Cyborg says the Ketlen Vieira fight at PFL Tampa on August 22 is the last bout on her current PFL contract, but she has stopped confirming it will be her final MMA fight.

Who is Cris Cyborg fighting next?

Cris Cyborg defends her PFL women's featherweight title against Ketlen Vieira in the main event of PFL Tampa on August 22.

Why did Cris Cyborg change her mind about retiring?

Cris Cyborg cited feeling better physically at 41 than she did at 21, and said the merger between Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions and PFL could open up bigger fights for free agents like her.