In Lyon (France), the PFL held another organizational event, with two vacant belts up for grabs.
In Lyon (France), the PFL held another organizational event, with two vacant belts up for grabs. And in them, two Brazilians tried their luck to end the year as champions of the organization.
They were Cris Cyborg and Renan Problema. While the Curitiba native managed to become champion of the featherweight category, the man from Goiás failed to achieve victory in his attempt to win the heavyweight belt.
Cris Cyborg submits and becomes featherweight champion
After more than a year away from the cage and devoting himself to boxing, Cyborg faced Australian Sara Collins to try to win her second PFL title (she had already won the “super fight” belt). The Brazilian fought hard from the start of the fight, using her experience to keep the fight going and avoid being knocked down by her rival, a judo specialist.
However, in the second round, Collins managed to defeat the Curitiba native. Despite this, the multiple champion looked much better in the fight, defending well against the Australian’s initiative on the ground. Once the fight resumed, there were no major offensive moments from either side and the Brazilian remained in control of the actions.
The third round still had moments on the ground, with Collins going up looking for a submission. However, the one who ended up getting it was Cyborg, who took advantage of the opportunity and got behind the Australian’s back. There, he grabbed the rear naked choke and secured the victory to take the class belt.
After the fight, the Brazilian spoke about the future and indicated that she wants to return to fight for the PFL in 2026. In the interview, she said that she had two rivals in mind for such a duel. Leah McCourt and Dakota Ditcheva, that’s the great feeling of the organization.
Renan Problema is finished in the first round
In the main bout of the PFL event, Renan Problema faced Vadim Nemkov for the vacant heavyweight title. Despite being much taller than the Russian, the Brazilian was unable to impose his strategy right away, being quickly taken to the ground and being the constant target of his opponent’s ground and strike.
Nemkov also risked submissions as much as he could, neutralizing any attempt at a reaction from the Brazilian, the latter content to defend himself from his rival’s attacks. It wasn’t enough given the momentum of the Russian, who fought his way into katagatame and, when he did, easily submitted Renan in the first round.
And Nemkov also began to ask for a rival for his next fight in the PFL. In this case, Cameroonian Francis Ngannou, who has not appeared at the event since 2024, having beaten Renan Problema in his only fight in the organization.
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