Cris Cyborg’s Retirement Fight Set for Tampa Against Ketlen Viera

ByTimothy Wheaton
Cris Cyborg's Retirement Fight Set for Tampa Against Ketlen Viera

The MMA world is witnessing the final chapter of one of its greatest stories. Cris Cyborg, the 40-year-old Brazilian featherweight powerhouse, has her retirement fight officially set. The PFL announced that Cyborg will face Ketlen Vieira on August 22 at PFL Tampa, presented by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater at the Benchmark International Arena. This bout marks the end of a career spanning more than 20 years in combat sports.

Cris Cyborg’s Last Fight Booked Against Ketlen Viera in the PFL

MMA legend Cris Cyborg stated her plan clearly: finish her two final fights, then retire from MMA. The decision comes after she defeated Sara Collins at PFL Lyon in December 2025, her 18th world championship fight victory. Cyborg made history with that win, becoming the first fighter in MMA history, male or female, to secure 18 world title victories.

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Her record stands at 29 wins, 2 losses, and 1 no contest as of late 2024, with 21 of those wins coming by knockout. Cyborg is the only Grand Slam Champion in MMA history, having won championships across four major promotions: Strikeforce, Invicta FC, UFC, and Bellator MMA. She also added PFL MMA to that list, becoming a five-promotional champion. Her title defenses included two in Strikeforce, three in Invicta FC, two in UFC, and five in Bellator.

Ketlen Vieira brings her own formidable résumé. Vieira is a Brazilian bantamweight from Manaus who recently departed the UFC following a victory in July 2023, having been ranked as the number 5 bantamweight in the organization. Vieira holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and specializes in grappling and clinch work, which presents a stylistic contrast to Cyborg’s striking dominance.

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Cris Cyborg
Image via: Getty

Vieira’s black belt-level grappling and physical clinch game will test Cyborg’s legendary stand-up. Cyborg has never faced a grappler with Vieira’s credentials in her final bouts, making this a genuine challenge for her legacy tour.

The event takes place in Tampa, Florida, on August 22, 2026. The PFL partnered with Visit St. Pete-Clearwater as the official sponsor, connecting the fight to Florida’s coastal tourism. Tampa has become a growing hub for combat sports events, with the city hosting multiple PFL competitions in recent years.

Vieira steps into the spotlight as Cyborg’s final opponent, a chance to end a legend’s career on her own terms. The PFL positioned this fight as the culmination of Cyborg’s legacy tour, which began with her bout against Larissa Pacheco. The MMA community will watch Tampa with anticipation. Cyborg’s final bow comes against a ranked opponent

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Cris Cyborg Champion
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Timothy Wheaton is a combat sports writer who covers MMA, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai. He has been a dedicated follower of these sports for decades. Tim has covered the UFC, GLORY, PFL, Bellator, and more, in person at live events as an on camera personality.

Tim also works with a host of other media outlets such as Calf Kick Sports, DAZN, Sportskeeda MMA, Combat Press, Fighters Only, MMA Sucka, Vecht Sport Info, MMA News, and Beyond Kickboxing. Tim is the authority on kickboxing and an MMA journalist who has covered K-1, PRIDE FC, UFC, GLORY Kickboxing, PFL, ONE Championship, and plenty more.

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