Cyborg’s PFL featherweight title withdrawn from stakes after opponent misses weight
Cris Cyborg and Ketlen Vieira will still fight in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, but the bout will be contested at catchweight after Vieira missed the 145lb limit by seven pounds and Cyborg’s PFL featherweight world title will not be at stake.
Cris Cyborg, 41, made the championship weight for the scheduled title contest and had suggested the Saturday fight might be her last after a 21-year career; Cyborg made her professional MMA debut in 2005 and has won world titles in Strikeforce, Belltator, the UFC and the PFL. Ketlen Vieira, 34, weighed in at 152lbs (10st 12lb) for the 145lb (10st 5lb) contest, putting the bout in danger of being cancelled before officials agreed to a catchweight arrangement.
Vieira, who has 15 UFC fights to her name, will forfeit a portion of her purse as a result of missing weight. The fight had been scheduled for the PFL featherweight world title, but organisers confirmed the belt will not be on the line following the weight miss.
Reacting on social media after the weigh-in, Cyborg wrote: "We don't care. Porrada." Speaking to ESPN Brasil, Cyborg said: "I believe Pederneiras' team is very professional and I'm not here to judge them, but she fought at 135lb, moved up to 145lb, and fought in May [in the UFC]," and added: "I think they were going to cancel the fight and everything, but there was a conversation to make sure the fight wouldn't get cancelled, and they reached a catchweight agreement. "I'm happy that I made weight. I'm really happy that the fight is going to happen."
Vieira told MMA Fighting that a medical issue prevented her from completing the weight cut, saying: "I had severe pain in my kidneys and stomach since last night. I felt really sick throughout the entire night. Master 'Dede' [coach Andre Pederneiras] slept in my bed with me, massaging my back so I could get some sleep," and: "This morning, I felt sick again and had another severe episode. I can't explain why this happened. I was doing well on weight, I'm a bantamweight fighter, and it had nothing to do with my weight. "I was in a lot of pain, and [my coach] wouldn't let me continue losing weight. I was doing well and sweating properly, but then I had this very severe episode, and [my coach] chose to prioritise my health."
After last-minute talks between teams and officials, the contest will proceed at catchweight and Cyborg's PFL featherweight title will not be contested when the fighters meet in Tampa on Saturday.