MMA Icon Cris Cyborg Shares Retirement Plans Following Unbeaten Sara Collins Clash at PFL Lyon

The MMA world is on the brink of bidding farewell to one of its fiercest warriors. Cris Cyborg, the indomitable queen of featherweight, is preparing to wrap up a career that’s spanned over two decades with a farewell tour kicking off at PFL Lyon. After boxing her way through a busy year outside the cage and topping it off with a stunning victory against Larissa Pacheco in Saudi Arabia, Cyborg is back, throwing down against the unbeaten Australian dynamo Sara Collins on December 13 at LDLC Arena. This isn’t just another fight card matchup—it’s a passing of the torch, a clash between MMA’s iron-willed icon and an up-and-comer with something to prove, all set against the vibrant backdrop of Lyon, the city where it all began to truly wrap up.

But don’t mistake this for a slow fade-out. Cris Cyborg is lining up her retirement like a champ—focused, raw, and unapologetically fierce. The PFL featherweight belt is on the line as she faces Sara Collins, a midwife by day who’s been submitting names faster than some fighters change their game plans. Collins’ last-minute armbar finish against Leah McCourt last September turned heads, marking her as the dangerous force Cyborg refuses to underestimate. In 2025, with two fights left on her PFL contract, Cyborg’s final chapter is unfolding, and fans are glued for every punch, strike, and takedown in this epic showdown between MMA’s past and future.

Cris Cyborg’s Legendary MMA Career and Retirement Plans Unveiled

When you talk MMA legends, Cris Cyborg isn’t just part of the conversation—she’s the headline act. A warrior who’s ruled women’s featherweight with an iron fist for over 20 years, Cyborg has more belts than a cowboy convention. Titles from Strikeforce, Bellator, UFC, PFL, and Invicta FC decorate a résumé that reads like a greatest hits album for female fighters in mixed martial arts. This isn’t someone who slips quietly out the door; she’s mapping her exit with the precision of a chess grandmaster.

She’s been away from the cage since that heart-stopping victory over Larissa Pacheco in Saudi Arabia last year, but if you thought the boxing ring was her retirement lounge, think again. Training hard, switching gears, but staying viciously competitive, Cris is keeping her hands busy and her spirit fired up. The retirement plans she recently shared aren’t just a fleeting thought—they’re a well-staged finale, set to unfold over two last PFL fights in 2025, starting at PFL Lyon in her hometown.

Her words echo the mindset of a fighter who’s given everything: “Every time I want to sit on the couch, my team calls me crazy and throws me into a boxing fight,” Cyborg told Bloody Elbow. Her decision to finish this contract and retire has been bubbling under the surface even before her last bout, a testament to her commitment to exit on her own brutal terms. With nearly 21 years in the MMA trenches, she’s looking to savor the last moments in the cage, channeling every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears into those final rounds. One could say, “she’s hanging up the gloves, but not before leaving the cage in flames.”

The Challenge of Sara Collins: The Rising Unbeaten Midwife Ready to Shake the PFL Lyon Cage

Now, here’s where the plot thickens. Sara Collins, the undefeated Aussie with a double life—caring for lives by daylight and dismantling opponents by night—is set to share the octagonal spotlight with the MMA titan. Collins isn’t just a name on a PFL fight card; she’s the kind of rising storm that forces legends to sharpen their claws. Standing tall with an unbeaten 6-0 record, she’s punched, grappled, and submitted her way into the hearts of MMA fans who love to see the next big thing take flight.

Her last notable highlight? Submitting Leah McCourt in under a round during September, an armbar so tight it probably made McCourt pray for a timeout not usually granted in MMA. Collins’ game is all about precision, timing, and a killer instinct that’s making her a real nightmare for anyone underestimating her. Her readiness to face Cyborg is not just a testament to her boldness but a statement that she’s eyeing that featherweight throne like a sharpshooter. Sara said in an exclusive chat with Bloody Elbow, “I didn’t think it would ever happen; I’m really excited. From the start she’s always been the top dog in the women’s featherweight division, so I’ve always looked at her as like ‘the end goal.’” You get the sense this fight isn’t just a bout—it’s a target practice session with a legend.

When a fighter with a day job as demanding as a midwife gets this hungry, you can be damn sure this fight in Lyon will be more than a classic clash. It’s the dawn of a potential new era. Cyborg might be the old guard, but Collins is the storm on the horizon, hungry as a wolf after a long winter.

Key attributes of Sara Collins that pose a threat to Cris Cyborg:

• Unyielding unbeaten streak: Six fights, six wins, and zero losses—all under pressure, all with chilling precision.
• Submission prowess: Recent armbar on Leah McCourt shows her ability to finish fights swiftly on the mat.
• Mental toughness: Balancing a professional career alongside fighting isn’t for the faint-hearted.
• Relentless training ethic: Preparing for Cyborg’s experience-driven brutality means Collins is sharpening both sword and shield.

The Technical Breakdown: How Cris Cyborg’s Experience Meets Sara Collins’ Raw Talent

Underneath all the hype, this fight is a fascinating chess game played at breakneck speed. Cyborg’s strength lies in her experience, her brutal striking, and cage control that’s seen every war imaginable. Collins, on the other hand, brings a raw enthusiasm and fresh grappling skills that could unsettle even the most battle-hardened vets. This isn’t just a fight; it’s a brain versus brawn showdown wrapped in a cage war jacket.

Let’s not sugarcoat it: Cyborg’s striking is like a sledgehammer coated in velvet. She can break wills while making the crowd sway with every thunderous blow. Yet, in the last decade, the MMA landscape has evolved, and the new wave mid-career fighters like Collins are coming with slicker grappling, slick submissions, and stamina that’ll put to test any fading cardio. Collins’ relentless ground game and submission attempts might be the puzzle Cyborg hasn’t solved yet.

For those geeky about the nitty-gritty, the fight dynamics break down like this:

Aspect	Cris Cyborg	Sara Collins
Striking Power	Elite, devastating punches and kicks	Developing, aggressive with bursts of accuracy
Grappling & Submission	Strong takedown defense, but cautious ground game	Highly skilled, with quick submissions
Cardio & Endurance	Experienced but waning with age	Young, explosive stamina
Cage Control	Master tactician and positional dominance	Improving, seeking to impose own style
Fight IQ	Veteran with decades of ring savvy	Hungry learner with high adaptability

It’s a classic MMA formula: dynast meets contender. It’s no coincidence that the buzz around this fight has fans speculating more than a kid before Christmas. In a sport where champions rise and fall like the stock market, Cyborg’s retirement tour promises fireworks, but Sara Collins is showing all signs she’s ready to steal a headline or two, possibly even the belt.

What Cris Cyborg’s Retirement Means for Women’s MMA and Future Female Fighters

When Cris Cyborg finally steps away from the cage, the ripple effects will be massive. Her retirement isn’t just the end of an era; it’s the closing of a chapter that shaped the women’s featherweight division and catapulted female fighters into the spotlight in mixed martial arts. She’s the only Grand Slam Champion in MMA history with titles across UFC, Strikeforce, Bellator, Invicta, and PFL. Those trophies don’t just belong in a glass case; they belong in the pantheon of female MMA legends.

It’s a tough act to follow. Cyborg’s ruthless style and unapologetic dominance have inspired a legion of female fighters who now see that toughness, skill, and heart can earn global respect. But with age mounting and her eyes clearly set on retirement after these last fights, the next generation is watching closely—Sara Collins included. The division will need fresh blood, fresh rivalries, and fresh champions to avoid the snooze fest that plagues too many combat sports once the veterans bow out.

Remember, this isn’t just about who wins or loses. It’s about carrying forward the legacy of fighters like Cyborg who paved the way. Like any great saga, the story evolves. Cyborg’s departure will create space for fierce talents to rise but will also challenge promoters and matchmakers to keep the division explosive. Any fan hungry for classic MMA storytelling can see the drama unfolding: the battle between honoring a legend and ushering in the new guard.

This transition phase will test the very best. It’s no joke that many female fighters have hit the scene dreaming about becoming the “next Cyborg.” The stakes couldn’t be higher in a division shaped by one of the hardest-hitting and fight-smartest women in MMA history.

Why the Spark Between MMA Veterans and New Talents Keeps the Sport Thriving

There’s a reason why the raw energy between MMA veterans and young guns is the lifeblood of the sport. The passing of the torch fights like Cyborg vs. Collins aren’t just spectacles—they’re showdowns that fuel the evolution of MMA across every promotion. This clash at PFL Lyon is a concrete example of how mixed martial arts remains unpredictable, a puzzle where experience and youth mix to produce chaos and brilliance inside the cage.

Veterans like Cyborg bring a brutal poeticism to the sport. Her career reads like a gritty novel packed with epic showdowns and combative genius. Younger talents like Sara Collins bring the hunger and unpredictability of a fresh challenger who hasn’t been worn down by the grind. This friction sparks innovation in fight tactics and mindset; it’s the reason MMA fights keep delivering after decades of evolution—the unpredictability factor.

As fans debate who the greatest female fighter truly is—Cyborg’s name is always in the ring. Yet, the conversation will soon pivot to who can fill those staggering shoes. With Sara Collins stalking the division unbeaten and ready to rumble, this PFL Lyon fight could be a milestone for the division and a statement for the rising generation.

For those looking for the inside scoop on how MMA legends prepare for retirement or how promising newcomers grind to reach the top, this fight is a goldmine of insight. And while Cyborg has hinted she’s about to join MMA’s retirement club—right alongside names like Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier—Sara Collins is set to crank the excitement levels higher, carrying the torch into what promises to be an electrifying future.