Cris Cyborg didn’t get to box in Green Bay as planned last month, but she’s landed one more match in the ring prior to her return to MMA.
Cyborg (27-2, 1NC MMA, 3-0 boxing) last competed in October 2023 in MMA, defeating Cat Zingano by TKO inside of a round. This past January, she switched modes to boxing, knocking out Kelsey Wickstrum, also in the first round. With Cyborg’s next bout under the PFL/Bellator banner still a question mark, that led to the Green Bay date, which saw multiple opponents fall through before being cancelled entirely.
Now, Cyborg tells Cageside Press that another boxing match is possible (and is now booked) prior to a September Champion vs. Champion fight with PFL’s Larissa Pacheco.
“Right now I’m ready, I’m healthy, I want to fight. I’ve been training every day. I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to fight. They [PFL] say a lot of different dates. I accepted a fight with Kayla Harrison, it was supposed to be in February but it didn’t happen. You guys know the reason already, because she signed with UFC. And then they said maybe I’m going to fight Larissa Pacheco in September,” Cyborg said back at LFA 184 in Commerce, CA. “I’m ready. I’m ready, I’m healthy. Maybe I’m going to fight one boxing fight before MMA.”
She has done just that. Cyborg will box on June 15 in London, she announced shortly after our interview. The event is set to take place at The Indigo at the O2. Her opponent has yet to be revealed.
The Bellator women’s featherweight champion also addressed comments my Mirella Vargas, who will headline PFL Europe 2 later this week, and said she’d love to share a card with her fellow Brazilian some day.
“For me it’s amazing, it fills my heart I love it. When I started fighting I didn’t just fight for myself, I fought for women’s MMA, for the sport to grow,” said Cyborg, asked about the feeling evoked from seeing younger athletes eager to fight alongside her. “You see how much growth there is. I feel very thankful to be fighting in this moment, women’s MMA has grown so much. It’s going to be a pleasure to fight on the same card.”
PFL head honcho Donn Davis has previously suggested that a September date with Pacheco is in the cards.
Watch our full interview with Bellator women’s featherweight champ Cris Cyborg above.
