Former
Ultimate Fighting Championship champion Cris
Cyborg is ready to embrace a new chapter once her legendary
mixed martial arts career comes to an end.
The reigning
Professional Fighters League champion has revealed that she
plans to start a family after her retirement bout against Ketlen
Vieira at
PFL Tampa on Aug. 22. She also confirmed that she has one more
boxing match scheduled for later this year.
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Cris Cyborg’s final MMA chapter has a deeply personal goal
Speaking to Sherdog’s Marcelo Alonso ahead of her farewell MMA
fight, Cyborg explained that her decision to retire is fueled by a
personal goal.
“I’ll never stop training because I love competing,” she said.
“I’ve been training since I was 12 years old. I started fighting
professionally at 19. This healthy lifestyle has allowed me to
reach 41 years old in great health and still performing at an elite
level. It’s become part of who I am, and I won’t change that.”
The Brazilian, who turned 41 on July 9, confirmed that she already
has a boxing bout booked after facing Vieira but intends to focus
on starting a family after her retirement.
A middleweight
title fight headlines PFL Austin: Tune on Saturday, July 18 at 8
p.m. ET on ESPN.
“But I’ve always wanted to become a mother. Now I plan to get
pregnant and begin this new chapter,” she added.
Cyborg also said that she’s happy to have fellow Brazilian Vieira,
a top-ranked contender whom the UFC opted against re-signing, as
her last opponent in MMA.
“I believe Ketlen is in her prime,” Cyborg said. “Just a few months
ago, she was ranked in the top three, so I’m happy to have a ranked
and highly credible opponent for my final fight.”
Cyborg enters the bout as one of the most accomplished female
fighters in MMA history. She will look to cap off her career with a
30th professional victory before shifting her focus to motherhood.