Combat sports superstar Cris "Cyborg" Justino has announced her intention to retire from mixed martial arts in 2026, marking the end of a historic 21-year career that established her as one of women's MMA's most dominant forces.
Final Chapter Approaches
The 40-year-old Brazilian champion confirmed to MMA Fighting that her upcoming PFL women's featherweight title defense against Sara Collins in Lyon this Saturday will be the second-to-last fight of her storied career. "I'm starting my legacy tour because I have two fights left on my contract," Cyborg stated. "Next year is going to be the last year for everything."
"Next year is going to be 21 years doing the same thing every day and I have different dreams. Among the dreams, I want to be a vet."
Transition to New Passion
With no major injuries throughout her career ("I never did one surgery," she emphasized), Cyborg plans to enroll in veterinary school after hanging up her gloves. The fighter, who owns a large ranch in Brazil, aims to trade octagon dominance for animal care, though she may still compete in professional boxing before fully retiring.
Historic Career Legacy
Since her 2005 debut, Cyborg has:
- Won championships in UFC, Strikeforce, Invicta FC, and Bellator
- Compiled a 28-3 record with 21 knockouts
- Remained undefeated since her 2018 loss to Amanda Nunes
- Defended Bellator's featherweight title five times
A victory over Collins would give Cyborg titles in five different promotions, though the PFL belt represents a continuation of her Bellator championship after the organizations merged in 2023.
Farewell Tour Plans
The MMA pioneer revealed discussions with PFL about potentially holding her final bout in Brazil. "We've planned for my last fight," Cyborg said, while also expressing interest in completing her professional boxing record before closing this chapter of her life.
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