# PFL Tampa: Cyborg vs. Vieira
**PFL Tampa: Cyborg vs. Vieira** was a mixed martial arts event held by the [Professional Fighters League](https://www.edgepedia.org/professional-fighters-league) (PFL) on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Benchmark International Arena in [Tampa, Florida](https://www.edgepedia.org/tampa-florida), headlined by PFL Women's Featherweight World Champion Cris Cyborg defending her title against [Ketlen Vieira](https://www.edgepedia.org/ketlen-vieira) in what the promotion billed as Cyborg's retirement fight.[1](https://pflmma.com/news/mma-great-cris-cyborgs-retirement-fight-set-as-professional-fighters-league-announces-pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-on-august-22-at-benchmark-international-arena-against-ketlen-vieira) The event was presented by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater and formed the closing show of the PFL's six-event Summer Series.[1](https://pflmma.com/news/mma-great-cris-cyborgs-retirement-fight-set-as-professional-fighters-league-announces-pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-on-august-22-at-benchmark-international-arena-against-ketlen-vieira) • [2](https://pflmma.com/news/pfl-kicks-off-summer-series-with-six-shows-in-eight-weeks-and-new-fan-engagement-events-across-the-us) Cyborg won by unanimous decision, and the broadcast drew 420,000 viewers on ESPN, the league's largest audience of 2026.[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/pfl/506105/pfl-tampa-results-cyborg-vs-vieira) • [4](https://www.criscyborg.com/cris-cyborg-delivers-pfls-biggest-audience-of-2026-with-420000-viewers-on-espn)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date and venue | Saturday, August 22, 2026, Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, Florida[1](https://pflmma.com/news/mma-great-cris-cyborgs-retirement-fight-set-as-professional-fighters-league-announces-pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-on-august-22-at-benchmark-international-arena-against-ketlen-vieira) |
| Main event | Cris Cyborg (29-2) vs. Ketlen Vieira (16-5), PFL Women's Featherweight World Championship, five rounds[1](https://pflmma.com/news/mma-great-cris-cyborgs-retirement-fight-set-as-professional-fighters-league-announces-pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-on-august-22-at-benchmark-international-arena-against-ketlen-vieira) |
| Weight miss | Vieira weighed 152.2 lbs against the 145.0 lbs championship limit; the bout proceeded at a 153.0 lbs catchweight[5](https://pflmma.com/news/complete-pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-weighin-results/) |
| Result | Cyborg won by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 49-46), her 30th professional win, retaining the title[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/pfl/506105/pfl-tampa-results-cyborg-vs-vieira) |
| Co-main event | Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Tracy Reeder by first-round TKO (4:38)[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/pfl/506105/pfl-tampa-results-cyborg-vs-vieira) |
| Broadcast | Main card on ESPN at 9:00 p.m. ET; prelims on the ESPN App from 5:30 p.m. ET[5](https://pflmma.com/news/complete-pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-weighin-results/) |
| Aftermath | Vieira suspended six months after a positive test for a WADA-banned steroidal substance[6](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Exclusive-Ketlen-Vieira-suspended-6-months-after-positive-test-following-Cyborg-fight-203196) |
## Announcement and context
The PFL announced the event on June 24, 2026, naming it the final MMA fight for [Cris Cyborg](https://www.edgepedia.org/cris-cyborg) (29-2), the PFL Women's Featherweight World Champion, against UFC veteran Ketlen "Fenômeno" Vieira (16-5), a recent PFL signing.[1](https://pflmma.com/news/mma-great-cris-cyborgs-retirement-fight-set-as-professional-fighters-league-announces-pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-on-august-22-at-benchmark-international-arena-against-ketlen-vieira) PFL CEO John Martin described the card as the conclusion of Cyborg's career, citing her 29 wins, a 79 percent finish rate, a title in every organization she had signed with, and an eight-year unbeaten run.[1](https://pflmma.com/news/mma-great-cris-cyborgs-retirement-fight-set-as-professional-fighters-league-announces-pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-on-august-22-at-benchmark-international-arena-against-ketlen-vieira) The event was also the final fight of Cyborg's PFL contract.[6](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Exclusive-Ketlen-Vieira-suspended-6-months-after-positive-test-following-Cyborg-fight-203196)
The card fell weeks after the official announcement of the merger between MVP and PFL, and it carried the full eleven-bout lineup confirmed on August 12, 2026.[7](https://pflmma.com/news/complete-pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-results-and-photos/) • [8](https://pflmma.com/news/pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-full-card-confirmed-for-august-22-at-benchmark-international-arena)
## The weight miss and title complications
At the August 21 weigh-ins, Cyborg made championship weight at 145.0 lbs, but Vieira tipped the scales at 152.2 lbs, 7.2 pounds over the 145-pound limit for a championship bout.[5](https://pflmma.com/news/complete-pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-weighin-results/) • [9](https://www.mmafighting.com/pfl/506228/ketlen-vieira-misses-weight-by-7-pounds-for-cris-cyborg-title-fight-at-pfl-tampa) The bout proceeded as a 153.0 lbs catchweight, with Vieira forfeiting a percentage of her purse as penalty.[5](https://pflmma.com/news/complete-pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-weighin-results/) • [9](https://www.mmafighting.com/pfl/506228/ketlen-vieira-misses-weight-by-7-pounds-for-cris-cyborg-title-fight-at-pfl-tampa)
Vieira was ineligible to win the title under any circumstance, but Cyborg agreed to vacate the belt if she lost, and to defend it only by winning.[5](https://pflmma.com/news/complete-pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-weighin-results/) • [9](https://www.mmafighting.com/pfl/506228/ketlen-vieira-misses-weight-by-7-pounds-for-cris-cyborg-title-fight-at-pfl-tampa) Martin called the arrangement an unprecedented situation and credited Cyborg for insisting on putting her title on the line.[5](https://pflmma.com/news/complete-pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-weighin-results/) A second bout was also scrapped that day: Florim Zendeli could not step on the scales after an unsuccessful weight cut, canceling his welterweight fight against Omran Chaaban.[5](https://pflmma.com/news/complete-pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-weighin-results/)
## The main event
The five-round fight went the distance. Cyborg opened with jabs to the body but had difficulty finding the distance for takedowns against her heavier opponent.[10](https://www.mmafighting.com/pfl/506662/pfl-tampa-results-cris-cyborg-defends-title-in-hard-fought-battle-sends-message-to-claressa-shields-kayla-harrison) The Brazilian contest was slow early and heated up from the late second round.[11](https://ge.globo.com/google/amp/combate/noticia/2026/08/23/cris-cyborg-vence-ketlen-vieira-por-pontos-na-pfl.ghtml) In the fourth round Cyborg landed leg kicks but was dropped by a takedown in the final minute, with Vieira opening a cut on the champion's face with ground-and-pound.[11](https://ge.globo.com/google/amp/combate/noticia/2026/08/23/cris-cyborg-vence-ketlen-vieira-por-pontos-na-pfl.ghtml) • [12](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/PFL-Tampa-Cyborg-vs-Vieira-playbyplay-results-round-scoring-202478) In the fifth, Cyborg scored an early takedown that Vieira reversed, and the round closed with Cyborg landing a heavy right hand against the cage.[11](https://ge.globo.com/google/amp/combate/noticia/2026/08/23/cris-cyborg-vence-ketlen-vieira-por-pontos-na-pfl.ghtml) • [12](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/PFL-Tampa-Cyborg-vs-Vieira-playbyplay-results-round-scoring-202478)
All three judges scored for Cyborg at 49-46, 48-47, and 49-46, a unanimous decision after five rounds of five minutes, refereed by Blake Grice.[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/pfl/506105/pfl-tampa-results-cyborg-vs-vieira) • [13](https://combat-edge.com/fight/cris-cyborg-ketlen-vieira-881/) It was Cyborg's 30th professional win, moving her record to 30-2, and it retained the PFL Women's Featherweight Championship.[7](https://pflmma.com/news/complete-pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-results-and-photos/) • [3](https://www.mmafighting.com/pfl/506105/pfl-tampa-results-cyborg-vs-vieira) Post-fight, Cyborg called Vieira "a big test" and said she was "ready for anybody, anytime, any weight," while also calling out [Claressa Shields](https://www.edgepedia.org/claressa-shields) and [Kayla Harrison](https://www.edgepedia.org/kayla-harrison).[10](https://www.mmafighting.com/pfl/506662/pfl-tampa-results-cris-cyborg-defends-title-in-hard-fought-battle-sends-message-to-claressa-shields-kayla-harrison)
## The rest of the card
In the lightweight co-main event, 2024 PFL Lightweight Champion Gadzhi Rabadanov dominated PFL debutant Tracy Reeder and won by first-round TKO at 4:38.[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/pfl/506105/pfl-tampa-results-cyborg-vs-vieira) • [7](https://pflmma.com/news/complete-pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-results-and-photos/) On the main card, Sabrinna de Sousa handed Taila Santos her first defeat by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27), and England's Luke Trainer, ranked third at light heavyweight, knocked out Roland Dunlap in the second round at 2:52.[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/pfl/506105/pfl-tampa-results-cyborg-vs-vieira) • [7](https://pflmma.com/news/complete-pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-results-and-photos/)
The preliminary card produced six further results: Nkosi Ndebele outpointed Marcirley Alves by unanimous decision; [Daniel Marcos](https://www.edgepedia.org/daniel-marcos) stopped Magomed Magomedov by corner stoppage 11 seconds into the third round; Javid Basharat beat Movsar Ibragimov on points; Dakota Bush edged Morquez Forest by split decision; Natan Schulte defeated Makkasharip Zaynukov by unanimous decision; and Eoin Sheridan knocked out James Vake at 4:09 of the first round.[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/pfl/506105/pfl-tampa-results-cyborg-vs-vieira)
## Aftermath
The ESPN broadcast drew 420,000 viewers, PFL's biggest audience of 2026 and the second-most-watched PFL ESPN broadcast ever, a figure attributed to Cyborg's drawing power and a record audience for women's MMA.[4](https://www.criscyborg.com/cris-cyborg-delivers-pfls-biggest-audience-of-2026-with-420000-viewers-on-espn)
The result was later overshadowed by regulatory news. In October 2026, Mike Mazzulli, director of the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation, told Sherdog that analysis of Vieira's A and B samples from her in-competition collection returned the same adverse analytical finding for a steroidal substance banned by the [World Anti-Doping Agency](https://www.edgepedia.org/world-anti-doping-agency), and Vieira was suspended for six months.[6](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Exclusive-Ketlen-Vieira-suspended-6-months-after-positive-test-following-Cyborg-fight-203196) Cyborg described the circumstances of the bout, which included the weight miss, as "extremely unusual."[6](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Exclusive-Ketlen-Vieira-suspended-6-months-after-positive-test-following-Cyborg-fight-203196)
## References
1. [MMA Great Cris Cyborg's Retirement Fight Set as PFL Announces PFL Tampa Presented by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater on August 22 at Benchmark International Arena Against Ketlen Vieira, PFL News](https://pflmma.com/news/mma-great-cris-cyborgs-retirement-fight-set-as-professional-fighters-league-announces-pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-on-august-22-at-benchmark-international-arena-against-ketlen-vieira)
2. [PFL Kicks Off 'Summer Series' With Six Shows in Eight Weeks, PFL News](https://pflmma.com/news/pfl-kicks-off-summer-series-with-six-shows-in-eight-weeks-and-new-fan-engagement-events-across-the-us)
3. [PFL Tampa Results: Cyborg vs. Vieira, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/pfl/506105/pfl-tampa-results-cyborg-vs-vieira)
4. [Cris Cyborg Delivers PFL's Biggest Audience of 2026 With 420,000 Viewers on ESPN, Cris Cyborg Official Website](https://www.criscyborg.com/cris-cyborg-delivers-pfls-biggest-audience-of-2026-with-420000-viewers-on-espn)
5. [Complete PFL Tampa Presented by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater Weigh-In Results, PFL News](https://pflmma.com/news/complete-pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-weighin-results/)
6. [Exclusive: Ketlen Vieira suspended 6 months after positive test following Cyborg fight, Sherdog](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Exclusive-Ketlen-Vieira-suspended-6-months-after-positive-test-following-Cyborg-fight-203196)
7. [Complete PFL Tampa Presented by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater Results, PFL News](https://pflmma.com/news/complete-pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-results-and-photos/)
8. [PFL Tampa Presented by Visit St. Pete-Clearwater Full Card Confirmed for August 22, PFL News](https://pflmma.com/news/pfl-tampa-presented-by-visit-st-peteclearwater-full-card-confirmed-for-august-22-at-benchmark-international-arena)
9. [Ketlen Vieira misses weight by 7 pounds for Cris Cyborg title fight at PFL Tampa, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/pfl/506228/ketlen-vieira-misses-weight-by-7-pounds-for-cris-cyborg-title-fight-at-pfl-tampa)
10. [PFL Tampa results: Cris Cyborg defends title in hard-fought battle, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/pfl/506662/pfl-tampa-results-cris-cyborg-defends-title-in-hard-fought-battle-sends-message-to-claressa-shields-kayla-harrison)
11. [Cris Cyborg vence Ketlen Vieira por pontos na PFL, ge.globo.com](https://ge.globo.com/google/amp/combate/noticia/2026/08/23/cris-cyborg-vence-ketlen-vieira-por-pontos-na-pfl.ghtml)
12. [PFL Tampa 'Cyborg vs. Vieira' play-by-play, results & round scoring, Sherdog](https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/PFL-Tampa-Cyborg-vs-Vieira-playbyplay-results-round-scoring-202478)
13. [Cris Cyborg vs Ketlen Vieira, Result & Stats, Combat Edge](https://combat-edge.com/fight/cris-cyborg-ketlen-vieira-881/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Mixed martial arts › Bellator and PFL*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license