Cris Cyborg, the Bellator women’s featherweight champion, is expressing frustration with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) for the delay in finalizing a fight against PFL champ Larissa Pacheco. Despite the potential for a high-profile matchup, negotiations seem to be dragging, prompting Cyborg to voice her impatience on social media.
Cyborg’s recent social media post addressed PFL executives Peter Murray and Donn Davis as she said “Can I get a fight booked during the first half of 2024?! The longer I sit without an MMA fight the less likely @lpacchec fight happens in 2024.”
Jan, Feb, March, April, May, June.@PFLMMA or @BellatorMMA
Can I get a fight booked during the first half of 2024?!@PeteMurrayPFL @DonnDavisPFL
The longer I sit without an MMA fight the less likely @lpacchec fight happens in 2024 @srjsports
My last MMA fight was Oct. pic.twitter.com/QA4pdA1bTS
— CrisCyborg.Com (@criscyborg) February 4, 2024
Cris Cyborg unwilling to have a long layoff from MMA
Cris Cyborg hinted at potential political factors affecting the negotiations, with a user suggesting that PFL might be intentionally delaying to make Cyborg rusty for an easier fight for Pacheco.
The Brazilian fighter, who last competed in October at Bellator 300, expressed reluctance to accept the fight if it means a prolonged layoff from MMA competition as she said, “I will not allow them to do this. I have already said I am unwilling to have a long layoff from mma competition and then be ‘offered’.”
They want you to be 49 years old getting slower then their 'girl' can beat you that easy to see
— Jo bonjo (@jo_bonjo41152) February 4, 2024
Kayla Harrison, a longtime PFL star, had previously called out Cyborg, and the potential matchup gained traction when both fighters were under the PFL banner. However, Harrison has since signed with the UFC, leaving the Cyborg-Pacheco showdown in limbo. At UFC 300, Harrison will make her promotional debut in the women’s bantamweight division against Holly Holm.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that Pacheco has a history with Kayla Harrison. Having defeated her at the 2022 PFL World Championship, Pacheco became the first PFL fighter to win gold in two different weight classes.
PFL had a women’s featherweight division in 2023, with Pacheco winning the title, and she is expected to move to the Super Fight division for the 2024 season. Despite anticipation for a Cyborg-Pacheco clash, it did not materialize in time for the PFL vs. Bellator champions pay-per-view card.
As Cris Cyborg grows impatient, the delay in finalizing this high-stakes fight adds uncertainty to the women’s MMA landscape, leaving fans and fighters alike eagerly awaiting resolution. Cyborg holds the Bellator title and has recently ventured into boxing, securing a 2-0 record as a professional boxer. It is unsure of what the future holds for the veteran MMA fighter.
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