The Bellator women’s featherweight champion, Cris Cyborg, recently issued a warning to the Professional Fighters League (PFL) through her Twitter account. She emphasized that time is running out for a highly anticipated champion vs. champion showdown with Larissa Pacheco, the 2023 women’s featherweight winner in PFL.
In a direct message to both PFL and Bellator, Cyborg laid out her plea for a fight to be scheduled in the first half of 2024. She specifically tagged individuals from PFL, including Pete Murray and Donn Davis, expressing the urgency of booking a match during the specified timeframe.
Cyborg highlighted the potential risks of delaying her return to the MMA cage, pointing out that the longer she remains without a fight, the less likely the anticipated clash with Larissa Pacheco will materialize in 2024.
Jan, Feb, March, April, May, June.@PFLMMA or @BellatorMMA
Can I get a fight booked during the first half of 2024?!@PeteMurrayPFL @DonnDavisPFL
The longer I sit without an MMA fight the less likely @lpacchec fight happens in 2024 @srjsports
My last MMA fight was Oct. pic.twitter.com/QA4pdA1bTS
— CrisCyborg.Com (@criscyborg) February 4, 2024
She underscored the importance of proactive engagement and fight scheduling to ensure the realization of significant matchups in the sport.
The frustration expressed by Cris Cyborg stems from previous instances when the PFL announced plans for a champion vs. champion fights without consulting her. In particular, she voiced her dismay with Donn Davis for making decisions about her next bout without prior communication.
Cyborg emphasized her determination to control the narrative of her career, especially during its final stages. She highlighted the significance of company culture and the way she is treated as pivotal factors in deciding the trajectory of her remaining fights.
Despite being called out by two fighters on fight night, Cyborg revealed that she had not been contacted or invited to the PFL show.
Acknowledging her financial stability, Cyborg asserted her unwillingness to enter any toxic work environments that could compromise her mental health.
She disclosed her excitement about boxing on January 19th and mentioned ongoing talks with her team to explore options for her return to MMA, underscoring her commitment to a strategic and mindful approach to the latter stages of her illustrious career.
