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Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, played host to the Professional Fighters League on Saturday night, as the promotion concluded its Summer Series with an entertaining card.
In the PFL Tampa main event, the legendary Cris Cyborg potentially competed for the final time when she faced longtime UFC bantamweight contender Ketlen Vieira. Because Vieira missed weight, only Cyborg was eligible to win the PFL women’s featherweight title.
Ketlen Vieira gives Cris Cyborg a major test in the PFL title fight
The fight delivered in impressive fashion. Cyborg spent much of the opening 10 minutes circling and picking her shots, while Vieira answered with short right hands. The final three rounds were less straightforward.
Cyborg secured takedowns in the third and fifth rounds as Vieira became an increasing threat. Cyborg’s control of the range had disappeared by the fourth, when Vieira cut her and finished the round on top. When the fifth round began, commentator Dan Hardy suggested Vieira might be ahead. However, Cyborg did enough to claim three rounds and earn a unanimous decision in what was perhaps the most competitive fight of her career.
The co-main event featured former PFL titleholder Gadzhi Rabadanov welcoming Tracy Reeder to the promotion. The Russian made quick work of his American opponent. Rabadanov used his jab to close the distance, gained top position and landed punches until referee Bryan Miner stopped the fight late in the first round.
An outstanding women’s flyweight matchup saw Sabrinna de Sousa defeat former UFC title challenger Taila Santos in a bout that could determine the division’s next No. 1 contender. Dakota Ditcheva is injured, while Liz Carmouche is scheduled to face Jena Bishop for the title later this year.
De Sousa impressed from the opening bell. The multiple-time amateur world champion attacked her fellow Brazilian with a trio of right hands early and established the pressure-heavy approach she maintained throughout the fight. Santos’ rally early in the third round represented de Sousa’s only significant setback. There was little doubt about the winner when the scores were announced, as de Sousa vaulted herself toward the top of the division.
The main-card opener featured kick-heavy light heavyweights Luke Trainer and Roland Dunlap. Both men traded damaging strikes in the first round and were staggered by jabs late in the frame. Dunlap started well in the second round before Trainer landed an Anderson Silva-style front kick to the face that knocked him unconscious.
Cris Cyborg’s final MMA bout headlines PFL Tampa: Tune in on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The standout matchup for longtime PFL followers was the preliminary-card headliner between 2025 PFL World Tournament champion Marcirley Alves and PFL Africa champion Nkosi Ndebele. Ndebele started quickly, using his jab and kicks to dominate the first round. Alves responded in the second with aggressive body kicks — one of which caught Ndebele’s arm and appeared to cause significant damage — and powerful counterstrikes. Ndebele’s size and control ultimately prevailed, as he rebounded to take a close third round and earn a unanimous decision.
European prospect Gino van Steenis also earned a victory, while Javid Basharat survived a significant first-round knockdown to take a decision over Movsar Ibragimov. Dakota Bush prevailed by a controversial decision, and sizable underdog Natan Schulte walked down and dominated Makkasharip Zaynukov in the night’s biggest upset.
Daniel Marcos earned a victory after opponent Magomed “Tiger” Magomedov suffered a dislocated shoulder. Magomedov’s cornerman, Islam Makhachev, threw in the towel early in the third round.
The opening bout saw top Irish prospect Eoin Sheridan finish James Vake in devastating fashion. The accomplished kickboxer landed a series of knees to the body before connecting with a knee to the head that dislodged Vake’s mouthpiece and rendered him unconscious.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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