Bloodied but unbowed, Cris Cyborg added to her extraordinary combat sports CV with a gritty victory over Larissa Pacheco on Sunday (AEDT).
The 39-year-old MMA trailblazer fought a fellow Brazilian nine years younger in Riyadh in the co-main event of PFL’s Battle of the Giants.
Both fighters came out swinging and Cyborg suffered nasty cuts above both eyes in the first of five rounds.
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Her cut man worked overtime but Cyborg didn’t let it affect her performance as she continued landing telling blows to claim victory in a unanimous decision, with three 49-46 scores.
“Larissa, man, she’s a legend in this sport,” Cyborg said on Stan Sport’s coverage.
“She’s a really good fighter. It’s a pleasure for me. I’m in the older generation, fighting the new generation, man.
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Cris Cyborg with a bloodied face competes against Larissa Pacheco. Getty
“I feel very blessed, very thankful. I work really hard. Those (last) 12 weeks is really difficult for me. But I’m really happy and thankful.
“I have more two fights, I’m going to defend this title.”
Cyborg won the women’s featherweight Super Fights world title belt while improving her record to 28-2.
It made her the first fighter to hold titles in five major promotions – PFL, UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce and Invicta.
Pacheco had won her previous 10 fights.
Cyborg’s performance had the fight world in awe.
PFL Battle of the Giants Main Card Results:
Francis Ngannou (18-3) defeated Renan Ferreira (13-4, 3 NC) via KO (punches) at 3:32 of round one
Cris Cyborg (28-2, 1 NC) defeated Larissa Pacheco (23-5) via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
Johnny Eblen (16-0) defeated Fabian Edwards (13-4) via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
Zafar Mohsen (14-4) defeated Husein Kadimagomaev (11-2) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Paul Hughes (13-1) defeated AJ McKee (22-2) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28
Early Card Results:
Raufeon Stots (21-2) defeated Marcos Breno (13-4) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:01 at round three
Makkasharip Zaynukov (16-4) defeated Dedrek Sanders (9-5) via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26. 30-26)
Ibragim Ibragimov (8-0) defeated Nacho Campos (5-1) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Taha Bendaoud (4-0) defeated Tariq Ismail (8-2) via submission (triangle choke) at 3:51 of round two
