Cris Cyborg added a thirtieth skilled MMA victory and retained the PFL ladies’s featherweight championship after a tough five-round resolution over Ketlen Vieira at PFL Tampa on Saturday evening. Gadzhi Rabadanov delivered essentially the most decisive consequence on the primary card, stopping Tracy Reeder by TKO at 4:38 of the primary spherical.
The Brazilian veteran gained 49-46, 48-47 and 49-46 at Benchmark Worldwide Area in Tampa, Florida, surviving Vieira’s late rally in a battle that had title implications earlier than both girl entered the cage. Vieira missed the 145-pound championship restrict by 7.2 kilos, weighing 152.2 kilos, which made her ineligible to go away with the belt even when she gained. The bout as a substitute went forward at a 153-pound catchweight, with Cyborg agreeing beforehand to vacate the title within the occasion of a defeat.
Cyborg, 41, began along with her regular mixture of stress and energy, however this was not a fast end. Vieira got here ahead all through the competition, taking the middle of the cage and forcing Cyborg to battle off the again foot at occasions.
The champion constructed her early edge with physique jabs, leg kicks and straight punches. A proper hand within the first spherical visibly shook Vieira, whereas Cyborg’s assaults downstairs slowed the challenger because the battle went on. Vieira discovered a second late in Spherical 2, touchdown hooks that appeared to briefly wobble Cyborg towards the fence, however the champion did sufficient work throughout the opening quarter-hour to earn the choice.
The ultimate two rounds introduced extra bother. Vieira discovered success with ahead stress, counter hooks and grappling exchanges, together with a throw within the fourth spherical that put Cyborg on her again. Within the fifth, Cyborg landed an early double-leg takedown, however Vieira reversed place and hung out controlling from high guard. Cyborg finally created area to return to her toes, and each ladies traded punches by the ultimate horn.
The consequence prolonged Cyborg’s MMA successful streak to 10 and marked the primary defence of her PFL featherweight title. She entered the evening with questions over whether or not it might be her last MMA look, because the bout accomplished her PFL contract. As a substitute of constructing a agency retirement announcement, Cyborg stored her future open.
“I don’t know if I’m going to battle once more, however I needed to be a champion another time and get my thirtieth victory,” Cyborg said. She additionally referred to as for fights with Claressa Shields and UFC ladies’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison, who attended the occasion.
Vieira dropped to 16-6 after her PFL debut. The previous UFC bantamweight contender moved up in weight for the Cyborg alternative, however the main weight miss left her unable to take the championship. Her effort contained in the cage nonetheless gave Cyborg a aggressive 25 minutes somewhat than a farewell procession.
Reeder, who entered on a five-fight ending streak and was making his PFL debut, fell to 12-6. He weighed 155.6 kilos for the light-weight contest, whereas Rabadanov got here in at 156.0. Reeder shot for a takedown late within the spherical however couldn’t full it. Rabadanov took high place, settled into management and unloaded punches till the stoppage. The win moved the Russian light-weight to 28-5-2 and gave him a second straight victory after his run because the 2024 PFL light-weight champion.
Sabrinna de Sousa additionally made a case for a much bigger place within the PFL ladies’s flyweight image. The unbeaten Brazilian outpointed former title challenger Taila Santos by scores of 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27, enhancing to 7-0. De Sousa used cleaner placing over three rounds to beat Santos, who fell to 23-5.
England’s Luke Coach closed the televised undercard with a second-round end of Roland Dunlap. Coach discovered the goal with a entrance kick at 2:52, then adopted with punches on the bottom for the TKO. The sunshine heavyweight improved to 11-1, with the win his sixth in a row.
Full PFL Tampa Outcomes
Cris Cyborg def. Ketlen Vieira through unanimous resolution, 49-46, 48-47, 49-46, to retain the PFL ladies’s featherweight title.
Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Tracy Reeder through TKO, punches, Spherical 1, 4:38.
Sabrinna de Sousa def. Taila Santos through unanimous resolution, 29-28, 30-27, 30-27.
Luke Coach def. Roland Dunlap through TKO, entrance kick and punches, Spherical 2, 2:52.
Nkosi Ndebele def. Marcirley Alves through unanimous resolution, 29-28, 30-27, 29-28.
Daniel Marcos def. Magomed Magomedov through TKO, damage Spherical 3, 0:11.
Javid Basharat def. Movsar Ibragimov through unanimous resolution, 29-28 throughout all three scorecards.
Dakota Bush def. Morquez Forest through break up resolution, 29-28, 28-29, 29-28.
Natan Schulte def. Artur Zaynukov through unanimous resolution, 29-28, 29-28, 30-27.
Gino van Steenis def. Robert Watley through unanimous resolution, 30-27, 29-28, 29-28.
Eoin Sheridan def. James Vake through knockout, knee, Spherical 1, 4:09.
