Talk about making a statement! MMA legend Cris Cyborg just clinched her 30th career win, not only defending her PFL featherweight title against Ketlen Vieira but also flat-out refusing to even consider retirement. And if you thought a unanimous decision victory was the biggest news of the night from PFL Tampa, you haven’t seen the post-fight mic drop. Cyborg immediately turned the entire combat sports world upside down by firing off a direct, no-holds-barred challenge to boxing superstar Claressa Shields. The intensity? Oh, it was dialed up to 11.
The Unanimous Decision Heard ‘Round the World
Seriously, everyone had their eyes on this one. Was this it for Cyborg? Was she going to hang up the gloves after her PFL featherweight title defense? Not a chance, buddy! She went toe-to-toe with Ketlen Vieira and the judges gave her the nod with scores of 49-46, 48-47, and another 49-46. That’s a dominant unanimous decision right there, giving her a massive 30 career MMA wins. Thirty! After the final buzzer, instead of hinting at an exit, Cyborg made it crystal clear: she’s not a free agent, she’s going to rest, and then she’s ready for *anybody*. We’re talking eight years undefeated. Let that sink in.
Claressa Shields Gets a Fiery Call-Out
And “anybody” apparently meant Claressa Shields first! The boxing champion, who just earlier this month locked down both the WBA and WBC female middleweight titles, got called out hard. Cyborg didn’t just mention her name, she went straight for the jugular. She told Drake Riggs of Uncrowned, and everyone else listening, that Shields is “scared to fight me.” Yeah, you read that right. Scared! She even went on to say, “[Vieira] has more heart than you.” Then the ultimate challenge: “Eat less. [Let’s fight at] 160 [pounds]. Let’s go.” That is some serious heat right there. Cyborg basically put Shields on blast for her heart and her weight, daring her to step up to a 160-pound showdown.
Kayla Harrison Caught Running?
But hold up, the show wasn’t over! It wasn’t just Shields on Cyborg’s radar. Kayla Harrison, a two-time PFL champion herself and the reigning UFC bantamweight champ, was in the building watching her teammates. And Cyborg didn’t miss a beat. She called Harrison out, too! “Kayla Harrison is here. Come here!” Cyborg shouted. “Hey, Kayla. You’ve been running for so long. You went running from PFL from me, now you come to watch my fight. I’m ready for you. I hope you heal your neck and go challenge Amanda Nunes, and I’m here.” “Running for so long?” That’s a direct challenge to Harrison’s courage, suggesting she avoided a fight with Cyborg. Talk about turning up the pressure!
Look, Cris Cyborg is one of the all-time greats in women’s combat sports, no doubt about it. So, for her to extend her legendary career with these kinds of marquee showdowns? It’s not a surprise at all. She just dropped a challenge bomb on two of the biggest names out there. The question now is, who’s got the guts to answer the call? This is going to be absolutely wild to watch unfold.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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