MMA champ Cyborg to make boxing debut Sept. 25
An MMA legend is headed to the boxing ring.
Cris Cyborg, the Bellator women's featherweight champion, is set to make her professional boxing debut Sept. 25 in her hometown of Curitiba, Brazil, she announced Wednesday on "The MMA Hour."
Cyborg will face Simone Silva in the main event of a Fight Music Show card for the promotion's 154-pound title. The bout will feature eight two-minute rounds.
The 37-year-old has long talked about crossing over to the sweet science throughout her MMA career. She revealed earlier this week that she is a restricted free agent - though still in an exclusive negotiating period with Bellator - and that a boxing match was in the works. It is unclear whether she will re-sign with Bellator, but she said Wednesday she loves working with the promotion.
Cyborg is one of the greatest women's MMA fighters of all time and is a former UFC, Strikeforce, and Invicta FC champion. She won Bellator gold in January 2020 and has defended that belt four times. Her only loss since her 2005 pro debut came against current UFC two-division champion Amanda Nunes in 2018.
In her most recent fight, Cyborg claimed a unanimous decision win over Arlene Blencowe at Bellator 279 in April.