Former UFC star Cris Cyborg is set to face Widnelly Figueroa in a boxing match at Green Bay Fight Night on April 27, despite her desire to return to MMA and face 2x PFL champion Larissa Pacheco.
PFL’s having a tough time. They’re trying to set up a featherweight clash between their champ, Larissa Pacheco, and Bellator’s titleholder Cris Cyborg. Meanwhile, Cyborg, an ex-UFC star, is keeping busy in the boxing ring.
Cyborg’s got a fight lined up. She’s set to face Widnelly Figueroa at Green Bay Fight Night in Green Bay, Wisc. It’s happening on April 27. The bout? A 154-pound match with four two-minute rounds and 10oz gloves. She announced it via press release.
Cyborg’s record in professional boxing? 2-0. She knocked out Kelsey Wickstrum in her last match in January. The Brazilian fighter, who previously won a decision over Bellator veteran Gabrielle Holloway, last stepped into the MMA ring in October 2023. She knocked out Cat Zingano in one round.
Figueroa’s record? Not so hot. She’s 0-2 as a pro and hasn’t fought since 2017. That year, she lost to Olympic boxer Mikaela Mayer, who was transitioning to pro boxing at the time. It was a first-round knockout.
According to the press release, Cyborg chose a boxing match. Why? Despite her itch to return to MMA and face off against 2x PFL champion Larissa Pacheco. The MMA promotion didn’t give her a date.
Cyborg had hopes for a June fight with Pacheco. That left her with limited dates for a boxing match. She said in the release, “Figueroa is a tough opponent. She’s been in the ring with boxing Olympians with way more experience than me. I’ve been training hard. I hope to continue showing my boxing skills’ improvement.”
Cyborg wants to prove something. She believes her KO power in MMA can translate into KO power with bigger gloves. She said, “I’m working on my boxing techniques. I aim to deliver the type of fight-ending finishes fans love. I want to bring the same excitement to women’s boxing as I’ve done in WMMA.”