PFL Tampa: Cyborg vs. Vieira Preview: Full Fight Card Breakdown
Cris Cyborg has called this her last fight. The PFL Women's Featherweight Championship is on the line at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa on August 22, and Cyborg — 41 years old, 29-2 across more than two decades in MMA, a world champion in Strikeforce, Invicta, UFC, Bellator, and now PFL — is defending the title for the second time. A win would make her the first woman in MMA history to reach 30 career victories. Ketlen Vieira is there to stop it.
Full Fight Card
| Fight | Weight Class | Card Section |
|---|---|---|
| Cris Cyborg vs. Ketlen Vieira | Women's Featherweight | Main Card |
| Gadzhi Rabadanov vs. Tracy Reeder | Lightweight | Main Card |
| Marcirley Alves vs. Gustavo Oliveira | Bantamweight | Main Card |
| Luke Trainer vs. Roland Dunlap | Light Heavyweight | Main Card |
| Magomed Magomedov vs. Daniel Marcos | Bantamweight | Preliminary Card |
| Taila Santos vs. Sabrina de Sousa | Women's Flyweight | Preliminary Card |
| Javid Basharat vs. Movsar Ibragimov | Bantamweight | Preliminary Card |
| Dakota Bush vs. Morquez Forest | Lightweight | Preliminary Card |
| Makkasharip Zaynukov vs. Natan Schulte | Lightweight | Preliminary Card |
| Gino van Steenis vs. Robert Watley | Lightweight | Preliminary Card |
| Florim Zendeli vs. Omran Chaaban | Welterweight | Preliminary Card |
| Eoin Sheridan vs. James Vake | Welterweight | Preliminary Card |
Main Event: Cyborg vs. Vieira
Cris Cyborg (29-2, 1 NC) won the PFL Women's Featherweight Championship in October 2024 with a unanimous decision over two-division PFL champion Larissa Pacheco in Riyadh. She defended it in December 2025 at PFL Lyon, submitting Sara Collins by rear naked choke in the third round. No other woman in MMA history has held world championship titles in five separate major organizations. Her win streak now spans eight years.
This is a farewell fight. Cyborg has said publicly this is her retirement, and Tampa will give her the full send-off. The question is whether Vieira can spoil it.
Ketlen Vieira (16-5) was ranked No. 5 in the UFC women's bantamweight division when the UFC declined to renew her contract after her win over Jacqueline Cavalcanti in May 2026. PFL signed her within weeks and immediately gave her a title shot in her promotional debut. She is moving up from 135 lbs to 145 lbs for the first time in her career. Vieira is a grappler and wrestler. Her path runs through takedowns and control, keeping Cyborg from building rhythm on the feet and using the size she will be gaining by moving up.
Cyborg is the favorite at around 1.50 decimal. The method-of-victory market leans toward a Cyborg finish — her striking power translates across weight classes. But Vieira brings real credentials: she pushed Kayla Harrison at UFC 307 and won the majority of her UFC bouts against ranked competition.
Co-Main: Rabadanov vs. Reeder
Gadzhi Rabadanov (27-5-2) is ranked second in the PFL lightweight division and is known as a Khabib Nurmagomedov protégé. He won the 2024 PFL Lightweight Season Championship and ran a 12-fight win streak before losing the 2025 PFL Lightweight World Tournament Final to Alfie Davis. He returned at PFL Sioux Falls in May 2026 with a unanimous decision win over Alex Chizov and is openly calling for a Davis rematch. Reeder stands between him and it.
Tracy Reeder (12-5) steps in as a late replacement after original opponent Jakub Kaszuba withdrew. He enters on a five-fight stoppage streak. Five consecutive finishes demands respect regardless of the name on the marquee.
In the ring, Rabadanov blends Dagestani grappling instincts with sharp striking. He holds a notable 32-second KO of former UFC veteran Marc Diakiese. He has shown he can grind out decisions when finishing attempts do not connect — which makes him difficult to plan against.
Notable Prelim Fights
Taila Santos vs. Sabrina de Sousa
Taila Santos was a top-five UFC women's flyweight before transitioning to PFL. She returned from a USADA suspension at PFL Sioux Falls in May, stopping Yan Qihui with a liver kick in the first round. That win clinched her a 2026 PFL playoff spot. Her prelim appearance here against Sabrina de Sousa is part of PFL's strategy of surrounding the main event with recognizable names throughout the card. Santos has real PFL title aspirations.
Javid Basharat vs. Movsar Ibragimov
Basharat (15-2) went 4-2 with a no-contest across seven UFC appearances before being cut in February 2026 — despite winning his final Octagon fight by unanimous decision over Gianni Vazquez just seven days before the cut. PFL signed him as part of an 18-fighter class and he makes his promotional debut here against Ibragimov (8-1). Basharat is an accomplished bantamweight whose UFC exit remains one of the more puzzling roster decisions of the year.
The Retirement Factor
Retirement fights carry specific weight. Cyborg has competed at the highest level of the sport for long enough that the crowd is already on her side before the first bell sounds. Vieira knows that. She needs to impose her will early, avoid Cyborg's right hand, and use her grappling to take the fight somewhere Cyborg has not often had to go in recent years. It is a credible path, but not the most likely one.
Tampa should be loud for this one.