Cris Cyborg takes shot at PFL over slow-moving negotiations: “Starting to understand why Kayla tried to leave”

By Josh Evanoff - January 30, 2024

Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg appears to be unhappy with the PFL.

Cris Cyborg

It’s been a weird month or so for the legendary Brazilian. At the start of the month, Cris Cyborg was eyeing a potential bout with longtime rival Kayla Harrison for later this year. In the meantime, she booked a boxing match against Kelsey Wickstrum, the third of her career.

Ultimately, Cris Cyborg flattened her opponent in her return to the boxing ring earlier this month. However, just days after she scored a knockout victory, Harrison announced her signing to the UFC. While disappointing for Cyborg, there are other potential fights for her in the PFL.

Notably, a bout with former tournament winner Larissa Pacheco was pitched by Donn Davis earlier this month. The 29-year-old has won nine straight, including an upset win over Harrison in 2022. While Cris Cyborg has had her reservations about booking the fight, she seems interested in it now.

However, it seems that the PFL themselves are having second doubts about booking it. Earlier this week, Cris Cyborg took to X, to release a series of posts. In one, she aimed at Donn Davis and Peter Murray for failing to get any fight finalized. She even stated that she understood why Kayla Harrison tried to leave the company not once, but twice.

In a follow-up post, she also responded to a fan about fighting Larissa Pacheco. In the post, Cyborg stated that she was down to face the former tournament winner, and the PFL should get working on it. It’s safe to say that the Bellator champion is getting sick and tired of waiting around.

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Cris Cyborg

Image via: @criscyborg on Instagram

Cris Cyborg takes aim at the PFL for failing to book return fight with Larissa Pacheco

Starting to understand why @KaylaH tried to leave the @PFLMMA both times she became a free agent.” – Cris Cyborg wrote on social media earlier this week.

Responding to a fan about fighting Larissa Pacheco, she quickly responded: “Yes. Willing and ready. No reason to keep me from fighting.”

In the event that the PFL declines to book Cris Cyborg, she could still fight in Bellator. While the Donn Davis promotion bought the company in November, they don’t plan to shut it down. Instead, they plan to run Bellator as a separate entity moving forward.

Before the Scott Coker era of the company ended, Cris Cyborg was linked to a fight with rising contender Leah McCourt. Should the PFL decline to book the champion against Larissa Pacheco, that remains an option. ‘The Curse’ last notched a knockout win over Sara McMann at Bellator 300 last year.

What do you make of these comments from Cris Cyborg? Where do you want to see the women’s featherweight champion fight next? In the PFL or Bellator?


Topics:

Bellator Cris 'Cyborg' Justino Professional Fighters League (PFL)