Cris Cyborg’s Legendary MMA Career Set to End at PFL Tampa Against Ketlen Vieira
One of the most accomplished fighters in mixed martial arts history is preparing for her final walk to the cage.
The Professional Fighters League has announced that PFL Women’s Featherweight World Champion Cris Cyborg will make the last MMA appearance of her storied career when she headlines PFL Tampa on August 22 at Benchmark International Arena. Standing across from the Brazilian legend will be former UFC title contender Ketlen Vieira in a championship main event that could dramatically alter the ending of Cyborg’s remarkable legacy.
The event, presented by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, will air live on ESPN beginning at 9 p.m. ET, with preliminary bouts streaming on the ESPN App.
For Cyborg, the fight represents the closing chapter of a career that helped transform women’s MMA into a global attraction. With a professional record of 29-2 and a finish rate approaching 80 percent, Cyborg built a reputation as one of the most feared competitors in combat sports. Her dominance extended across multiple organizations as she captured championships in Strikeforce, Invicta FC, the UFC, Bellator, and most recently the PFL.
Beyond her accomplishments inside the cage, Cyborg has remained active in professional boxing during the latter stages of her combat sports career, further cementing her status as one of the most versatile athletes in the fight game.
PFL CEO John Martin emphasized the significance of the event, calling it a historic moment for both the promotion and the sport.
“Cris Cyborg is a pioneer not only for women’s MMA but for mixed martial arts as a whole,” Martin said. “Her retirement fight will be a special event, but she faces a proven challenger in Ketlen Vieira, who has every intention of spoiling the celebration and leaving Tampa as champion.”
While much of the attention will focus on Cyborg’s farewell, Vieira enters with ambitions of authoring one of the biggest victories of her career. A longtime contender during her UFC tenure, Vieira established herself among the division’s elite and spent years ranked inside the promotion’s top five.
Training out of the renowned Nova União camp, Vieira owns notable victories over former UFC champions Holly Holm and Miesha Tate. She also exited the UFC on a positive note, winning two of her final three appearances before making the move to the PFL.
Now, the 33-year-old Brazilian has the opportunity to claim championship gold while ending one of the sport’s greatest careers on her own terms.
The matchup presents a compelling contrast between a legend seeking the perfect ending and a hungry challenger determined to seize the spotlight. Whether Cyborg adds one final victory to her unparalleled résumé or Vieira ushers in a new era at featherweight, PFL Tampa is positioned to deliver a memorable night for MMA fans.
Additional bouts for the August 22 card are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
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