Latest news with #PFLSuperFights
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cris Cyborg, now 40, reveals 'plan is to retire as a PFL fighter'
Cris Cyborg wants to fight out her PFL contract then retire. Cyborg (28-2 MMA) has claimed a title in just about every major organization, from Strikeforce to Bellator to the UFC. She claimed the inaugural PFL Super Fights women's featherweight title by defeating Larissa Pacheco last October. The Bellator women's featherweight champion has remained active in between MMA fights by boxing, most recently finishing Precious Harris-McCray by first-round TKO in the Fight Night 3: San Jose co-headliner in May. She is now ready to wrap up her career after building an undeniable legacy. "The reality is this decision has literally been (there) longer," Cyborg said in an interview with James Lynch. "When I signed this current contract, we had already made the plan to finish the contract and retire, because we started the legacy tour when I fought against Larissa Pacheco. So I have two fights left, and I'm ready for the next chapter. Some fighters will never know when to end. I just turned 40 years old, I feel great, but we have to know when it's time to stop." Cyborg has fought the who's who in MMA – including Gina Carano, Holly Holm, Cat Zingano, Pacheco, and Amanda Nunes. She was asked who her preferred opponents would be for her final two fights. "I like to do step by step," Cyborg said. "My next fight, I believe, is going to be Sara Collins. She's undefeated, she beat Leah McCourt, she's No. 1 in Australia, she fought girls at the top at 145 pounds. I believe she's going to be next, and I like to think about the next one."
The Independent
18-02-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Francis Ngannou drops hint over next move and names ideal opponent
Francis Ngannou has said he would prefer a boxing match over an MMA contest as his next fight – while eyeing yet another world champion as his opponent, in the form of Deontay Wilder. Ngannou, a former UFC champion, made his boxing debut in October 2023 as he took on Tyson Fury. The Cameroonian dropped Fury before losing a controversial decision, failing to take the WBC heavyweight title from the Briton. Then, in March 2024, Ngannou had a very different experience against former champion Anthony Joshua, suffering three knockdowns and a second-round KO loss. Ngannou, 38, then returned to mixed martial arts in October, stopping Renan Ferreira in round one to become the PFL Super Fights heavyweight champion – almost three years after vacating the UFC title. 'I have a few fights left,' Ngannou told Uncrowned. 'I focus on very few fights, not on options. There's a lot of options. '[Kickboxer] Rico Verhoeven could happen, but I don't know. Rico is an option, Derek Chisora is an option, Wladimir Klitschko could be an option. 'I want a boxing fight next. I'd prefer a boxing fight next, maybe Deontay Wilder [...] I don't know if I will rematch Fury, I hope so.' Fury, 36, announced his retirement from boxing in January, though not for the first time. Meanwhile, 41-year-old Chisora has claimed he has one fight left before retiring. Former champion Klitschko retired in 2017 but has flirted with the idea of returning to the ring. As for Ngannou's future in MMA, the 'Predator' said: '[The goal is] to challenge and fight a contender, to fight someone like Vadim Nemkov. 'I think it's also about the timing. Yes, there are interesting [fights in the PFL]. Every fight that can happen, I'll be ready to go.' Ngannou's win over Ferreira marked his first MMA fight since January 2022, when he outpointed former teammate Ciryl Gane to retain the UFC heavyweight title. Prior to that bout, Ngannou knocked out divisional great Stipe Miocic to win the belt in March 2021, avenging a 2018 loss to the American in the process. After beating Ferreira, Ngannou dedicated the win to his late son Kobe, who died at just 15 months old earlier in the year. 'The past two days were very tough, full of emotion, I couldn't do anything without thinking about it [Kobe's passing],' Ngannou said. 'I tried to stay strong and tell myself to do everything to keep moving but it's hard. It's just hard. I only did this fight because of him. I wanted to fight for him... I hope they can remember his name, because without Kobe, we wouldn't be here tonight, I wouldn't have fought.'
