Cris Cyborg confirms retirement timeline ahead of PFL Lyon clash with Sara Collins

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MMA legend Cris Cyborg is set to retire next year after a long and storied career at the top of the sport, beginning her farewell tour in Lyon.

Over the years, the iconic featherweight has built a reputation as one of MMA’s most consistent champions, with title reigns spanning several generations. Although she hasn’t competed since her win over Larissa Pacheco in Saudi Arabia last year, she’s stayed active with some time in the boxing ring.

Cyborg will put her PFL belt on the line again when she faces Sara Collins of Australia on 13 December in France. Collins balances fighting with her day job as a midwife and recently made headlines by submitting Leah McCourt inside a round.

Cris Cyborg set to walk away from MMA after PFL Lyon

Cris Cyborg, one of the most dominant featherweights in women’s MMA history, has announced she’ll retire after her final two PFL fights. Over a career spanning more than 20 years, she’s collected titles in Strikeforce, Bellator, UFC, PFL and Invicta, leaving a mark on every promotion she’s been part of.

“Every time I want to sit on the couch, my team call me crazy and tell me to have a boxing fight,” she told Bloody Elbow in an exclusive chat. “It keeps me alive, keeps me motivated and we will complete the MMA journey together.

“But I’m excited because next year we are preparing to celebrate 21 years in the sport. I’m really thankful, I have to enjoy every single moment, every part of training, every time I step in the cage or the ring because it’s going to finish and I have to give everything.”

Sara Collins ready for career-defining test against Cris Cyborg

Collins, who has a full-time job outside the sport, admits she’s putting in extra hours to get ready for the biggest challenge of her career so far.

“I didn’t think it would ever happen, I’m really excited,” Collins told Bloody Elbow. “From the start she’s always been the top dog in the women’s featherweight division so I’ve always looked at her as like ‘the end goal’.

“So it’s always been about just training to prepare to one day fight Cyborg. I didn’t think it would actually ever come and then here we are and it’s happening so I’m super excited, very fortunate.”