Cris Cyborg’s anticipated final bout faced significant uncertainty when her opponent Ketlen Vieira failed to make the 145-pound featherweight limit for their matchup in Tampa, Florida. Vieira weighed in at 152 pounds, exceeding the championship weight by seven pounds, which initially threatened to result in the fight being scrapped entirely.
Rather than cancel the contest, officials reached an agreement to convert the bout into a catchweight matchup, allowing it to proceed on Saturday. Under this arrangement, Cyborg’s PFL featherweight world title was removed from the line, though the fight will continue as scheduled. Cyborg, who successfully made the weight limit, responded positively to the development, stating her willingness to compete despite the complications.
Vieira attributed her weight miss to an unexpected health issue that emerged during the final stages of her weight cut. She reported experiencing severe kidney and stomach pain beginning the previous evening, which intensified the following morning and forced her to halt her cutting process. Her coach Andre Pederneiras made the decision to prioritize her health over completing the weight cut, despite her initial progress. Vieira, who has competed in 15 UFC fights, will forfeit a portion of her compensation as a result of missing the contractual weight.
Cyborg, at 41 years old, has indicated that Saturday’s contest may mark the conclusion of her 21-year fighting career. Throughout her tenure in professional mixed martial arts, she has captured world titles across multiple organizations, including Strikeforce, Bellator, the UFC, and the PFL. She expressed relief that the bout would take place despite the late complications surrounding Vieira’s weight compliance.
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