Cris Cyborg defeats Ketlen Vieira in retirement fight

A PFL Women’s Featherweight Championship bout between champion Cris Cyborg and Ketlen Vieira headlined Saturday’s PFL event in Tampa, Florida. It was Cyborg’s retirement fight and she walked away with a hard-fought win.

The former Strikeforce, Invicta FC, UFC and Bellator Women’s Featherweight World Champion made her professional debut in 2005 and has held titles in every major MMA promotion that featured women’s fighting. The bout was Vieira’s promotional debut. During Friday’s weigh-in, she missed weight by a staggering 7.2 pounds.

Vieira took the center of the cage to start the fight as Cyborg circled on the outside. Cyborg landed first with a punch to the body. Vieira stepped in with a right hand. Cyborg invested in leg kicks early. Vieira looked to get the fight to the ground late in the round but Cyborg shrugged off the attempt. Cyborg landed to the body followed by a right hand to the head. He continued to delivered leg kicks. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Cyborg.

Cyborg landed to the body followed with a leg kick to begin the second round. Vieira responded to a jab with a left hand. Cyborg loaded up with a right hand but missed. She went back to targeting Vieira’s body and legs. Vieira connected with a counter right hand. Cyborg responded with a right. Vieira hurt Cyborg with a right hand and picked up the pressure. They wildly exchanged before clinching. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Cyborg.

Cyborg ducked under a punch and secured a double-leg takedown early in the third frame. She stood and delivered right hands to the body before dropping back into Vieira’s guard. Cyborg postured up and landed right hands. Vieira kicked Cyborg off and got to her feet. Vieira pressured Cyborg. They exchanged on the inside. Cyborg pressed forward with a right hand. Cyborg clinched and a knee went low. Vieira was given time to recover and the action restarted.

Cyborg landed a leg kick but took a right hand. Cyborg circled to her left on the outside. They clinched and cyborg delivered knees to the legs before separating. At distance, Cyborg landed to the body. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Cyborg.

They exchanged jabs to start the fourth. Cubory continued to utilize leg kicks. Vieira pressured the champion. She began mixing in teep kicks. Vieira stepped with a combination. Cyborg answered with a leg kick. Vieira landed a straight right. Viera continued to pressure Cyborg but Cyborg was landing at a higher ratio. Vieira timed a takedown. She worked in Cyborg’s closed guard. Vieira peppered Cyborg with short punches. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Vieira.

They met int he middle and Cyborg went back to delivering leg kicks. Vieira pressed forward. Cyborg secured a takedown but Vieira quickly got to her feet. In the clinch, Cyborg delivered knees to the legs of Vieira. Vieira tripped Cyborg to the canvas. She worked in Cyborg’s closed guard. Cyborg was unable to get off the bottom. Cyborg kicked her way back to her feet with 90 seconds remaining. She landed to the body. Vieira continued forward pressure. Cyborg landed leg kicks followed by a right hand. Cyborg pressured forward and connected with a right hand. They slugged it out in the final seconds.

The judges scored the fight for Cyborg via unanimous decision. The scorecards read 49-46, 48-47, and 49-46.

Main Card (ESPN at 9 p.m. ET)

• Cris Cyborg def. Ketlen Vieira via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 49-46)

• Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Tracy Reeder via first-round TKO (4:38)

• Sabrinna de Sousa def. Taila Santos via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

• Luke Trainer def. Roland Dunlap via second-round TKO (2:52)

Preliminary Card (ESPN+ LIVE now)

• Nkosi Ndebele def. Marcirley Alves via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)

• Daniel Marcos def. Magomed Magomedov via third-round TKO (corner stoppage) (0:11)

• Javid Basharat def. Movsar Ibragimov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

• Dakota Bush def. Morquez Forest via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

• Natan Schulte def. Makkasharip Zaynukov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

• Gino van Steenis def. Robert Watley via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

• Eoin Sheridan def. James Vake via first-round knockout (4:09)