Cris Cyborg: 2009 Carano knockout remains proudest moment for fighter

Cris Cyborg said the proudest moment of her 21-year career came in 2009 when she knocked out Gina Carano to win the Strikeforce featherweight title, the first women's title bout to headline a major event and to be broadcast live on primetime TV in America. She made the remarks in an interview with BBC Sport.

Cyborg has won 29 of her 32 professional fights and, at 41, has collected world titles across multiple promotions. The 2009 Carano bout was also the first women's MMA contest to be scheduled for five, five-minute rounds rather than three, three-minute rounds.

"I believe a lot of people over the world watched that fight and it opened a lot of doors," Cyborg told BBC Sport. "We were training hard saying one day the opportunity is going to come and we're going to be ready to show that girls can fight. And I had the opportunity to show this - not just for me, but to give the opportunity to other women.

"Now I can see how big the sport has grown. It makes me happy because the reality of the dream isn't just for me, it's for all the women in the world. I know the girls before me didn't have this."

Cyborg finished the Carano fight as the referee waved off the contest with one second of the first round remaining while she rained down punches. She said the victory changed how fans and commentators perceived her: "People were not calling me Cris Cyborg any more, they were calling me 'the killing machine'." She added: "I think they figured out 'man, that lady from Brazil is dangerous'. A lot of people thought Gina was going to win that fight, they didn't know who I am, and it showed I'm here and going to stay for a long time."

"In the 17 years which have followed, Cyborg has won 21 of her 22 fights and secured further world titles in promotions such as the UFC, Bellator and PFL," the interview notes. She has also recorded six victories in professional boxing.

Cyborg pointed to several other career highlights when asked, citing her UFC debut in 2016 against Lina Lansberg, her 2020 defence of the Bellator featherweight belt against Arlene Blencowe, and her 2024 win over Larissa Pacheco. She has also spoken about maintaining humility through a long run at the top: "When you are champion for a long time you have to be humble because sometimes you think you're a world champion who knows everything," said Cyborg. "I always step in the cage and gym open to learn. I'm a better fighter today at 41 than 21. "When I lose I don't feel like I'm going to quit. I say I'm going to train and beat the person next time."

Cyborg has suggested her next move may not be inside the cage, expressing a desire to train as a veterinary surgeon and speaking about her love of animals. "This is one dream when I was a young kid, and I love animals, I love to be around animals. I don't just do this because I want to be famous or money," said Cyborg. "Being a vet is one of the things I love to do because I love animals, I have a passion. "I have many pets - cows, horses, pigs. I have a dog, a cat, a fish, a bird, I have a lot."

On Saturday in Tampa, Florida, Cyborg will defend her PFL featherweight title against fellow Brazilian Ketlen Vieira; the bout is the final match-up on her PFL contract and the last in a series of contests she has described as her "legacy tour." A victory would extend her record for most knockouts by a woman, with 21, and maintain her run in world-title fights; Amanda Nunes is listed as second with 13.