Cris Cyborg
Brazil
Defends belt with first-round stoppage
Cyborg successfully defended her featherweight title against Cat Zingano via TKO (punches) at 4:01 of Round 1 at Bellator 300 on October 7 in San Diego.
ANALYSIS
Despite taking a few months off to collect victories in the boxing ring over Gabrielle Holloway and Simone da Silva, Cyborg looked just as sharp as ever here at the age of 38. Zingano did connect on an early takedown, but Cyborg was back up to her feet instantly. From there, it was a steady pattern of Cyborg clipping her opponent on the feet, Zingano shooting for a desperation takedown, and Cyborg defending it. After a particularly damaging set of right hands later in the frame, Cyborg reversed Zingano's takedown attempt and ended up in top position, where she closed the show with ground-and-pound. The fellow former UFC fighter proved to be no match for Cyborg in her fifth consecutive title defense. She stays unbeaten under the Bellator banner.
Despite taking a few months off to collect victories in the boxing ring over Gabrielle Holloway and Simone da Silva, Cyborg looked just as sharp as ever here at the age of 38. Zingano did connect on an early takedown, but Cyborg was back up to her feet instantly. From there, it was a steady pattern of Cyborg clipping her opponent on the feet, Zingano shooting for a desperation takedown, and Cyborg defending it. After a particularly damaging set of right hands later in the frame, Cyborg reversed Zingano's takedown attempt and ended up in top position, where she closed the show with ground-and-pound. The fellow former UFC fighter proved to be no match for Cyborg in her fifth consecutive title defense. She stays unbeaten under the Bellator banner.
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Re-signs with Bellator
Cyborg signed a multi-fight contract with Bellator on Thursday, according to the company's Twitter account.
ANALYSIS
After more than one year of weighing all her available options as a free agent, Cyborg decided to re-sign with the company whose featherweight championship she holds. Currently, her Bellator career includes the title win and four defenses across five fights with zero losses. According to MMAJunkie.com, it is expected that Cyborg will defend the company's featherweight championship against Cat Zingano next.
After more than one year of weighing all her available options as a free agent, Cyborg decided to re-sign with the company whose featherweight championship she holds. Currently, her Bellator career includes the title win and four defenses across five fights with zero losses. According to MMAJunkie.com, it is expected that Cyborg will defend the company's featherweight championship against Cat Zingano next.
Enters free agency following title defense
Cyborg defeated Arlene Blencowe (49-45, 49-45, 49-45) to retain her Bellator Women's Featherweight Championship at Bellator 279 on April 23 in Hawaii.
ANALYSIS
It's the fourth consecutive title defense for Cyborg, who ties Ben Askren for the Bellator record. This was also an opponent Cyborg had seen before, as she defeated Blencowe via second-round submission in October of 2020. While Blencowe saw the final bell here, there was no doubt in the minds of fans or judges who had won this fight. Cyborg would have won every round, but she was correctly docked a point from referee Jason Herzog for attempting an illegal knee towards the head of Blencowe when she was grounded early in the fight. Despite that blemish, it was a dominant effort from a fighter on the verge of entering free agency. After the fight, Cyborg suggested she's looking for the biggest fight available, whether that be against Amanda Nunes in the UFC, Cat Zingano in Bellator or against PFL champion Kayla Harrison. There's no doubt Cyborg still has plenty of drawing power at the age of 36.
It's the fourth consecutive title defense for Cyborg, who ties Ben Askren for the Bellator record. This was also an opponent Cyborg had seen before, as she defeated Blencowe via second-round submission in October of 2020. While Blencowe saw the final bell here, there was no doubt in the minds of fans or judges who had won this fight. Cyborg would have won every round, but she was correctly docked a point from referee Jason Herzog for attempting an illegal knee towards the head of Blencowe when she was grounded early in the fight. Despite that blemish, it was a dominant effort from a fighter on the verge of entering free agency. After the fight, Cyborg suggested she's looking for the biggest fight available, whether that be against Amanda Nunes in the UFC, Cat Zingano in Bellator or against PFL champion Kayla Harrison. There's no doubt Cyborg still has plenty of drawing power at the age of 36.
Retains belt in violent fashion
Cyborg defended her featherweight belt against Sinead Kavanagh via KO (punches) at 1:32 of Round 1 at Bellator 271 on Nov. 12 in Hollywood, Florida.
ANALYSIS
This was easy work for Cyborg, who now sports a perfect 4-0 record under the Bellator banner. Voluntarily electing to enter a firefight against one of the greatest female strikers of all time is not typically a great idea, but that's the strategy Kavanagh elected to use knowing she entered this fight as a massive, massive underdog. Just 90 seconds after the opening bell rang, she was unconscious. It's going to be challenging to find willing and capable competition for Cyborg moving forward, but it appears the company is lining something up between her and fellow UFC veteran Cat Zingano down the road.
This was easy work for Cyborg, who now sports a perfect 4-0 record under the Bellator banner. Voluntarily electing to enter a firefight against one of the greatest female strikers of all time is not typically a great idea, but that's the strategy Kavanagh elected to use knowing she entered this fight as a massive, massive underdog. Just 90 seconds after the opening bell rang, she was unconscious. It's going to be challenging to find willing and capable competition for Cyborg moving forward, but it appears the company is lining something up between her and fellow UFC veteran Cat Zingano down the road.
Cruises to title defense against Smith
Cyborg defeated Leslie Smith via TKO (punches) to retain her Bellator Featherweight Championship at Bellator 259 on May 21 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut.
ANALYSIS
Cyborg did allow Smith to hang around much longer than the first time these two met under the UFC banner, but she also showed growth and evolution as a fighter. Cyborg rarely attempted to blitz her opponent in search of the knockout and instead patiently selected her opportunities when she could tell she had Smith hurt. Cyborg also used more wrestling than fans are typically accustomed to in her fights, which could be a new, interesting dynamic as the level of competition rises. After the fight, Cyborg called out a fellow former UFC fighter in Cat Zingano for her next title defense.
Cyborg did allow Smith to hang around much longer than the first time these two met under the UFC banner, but she also showed growth and evolution as a fighter. Cyborg rarely attempted to blitz her opponent in search of the knockout and instead patiently selected her opportunities when she could tell she had Smith hurt. Cyborg also used more wrestling than fans are typically accustomed to in her fights, which could be a new, interesting dynamic as the level of competition rises. After the fight, Cyborg called out a fellow former UFC fighter in Cat Zingano for her next title defense.
Champion once again
Cyborg defeated Julia Budd via TKO (punches) at 1:14 of Round 4 at Bellator 238 on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
This was a vintage performance from Cyborg, who stayed aggressive and continued to press forward, displaying exceptional cardio against an opponent that matched up well in size and strength. Budd put forth a solid effort through the first three rounds, but the accumulation of strikes -- especially to the body -- started to take its toll by Round 4. It was a body shot that crumbled Budd over a minute into the fourth round, and a barrage of follow-up strikes forced the bout to be called off. Bellator could choose to run this one back, but Cyborg would likely enter as a big favorite, as would be the case against any other featherweight the promotion sends her way. The scary thought is that Cyborg continues to evolve as a fighter at the age of 34, and while a return to the UFC is almost certainly out of the question, it appears she still has several dominant years ahead.
This was a vintage performance from Cyborg, who stayed aggressive and continued to press forward, displaying exceptional cardio against an opponent that matched up well in size and strength. Budd put forth a solid effort through the first three rounds, but the accumulation of strikes -- especially to the body -- started to take its toll by Round 4. It was a body shot that crumbled Budd over a minute into the fourth round, and a barrage of follow-up strikes forced the bout to be called off. Bellator could choose to run this one back, but Cyborg would likely enter as a big favorite, as would be the case against any other featherweight the promotion sends her way. The scary thought is that Cyborg continues to evolve as a fighter at the age of 34, and while a return to the UFC is almost certainly out of the question, it appears she still has several dominant years ahead.