Soon-to-be MMA free agent and Bellator featherweight champion Cris Cyborg is scheduled to box Simone Silva at Fight Music Show 2 on Sept. 25 in Brazil. She plans to enter the squared circle one more time before the end of the year.
On this week’s episode of MMA Fighting’s Trocacao Franca, Cyborg said she hasn’t made a decision regarding her future in MMA, but she’s leaning toward re-signing with Bellator. She also explained why she hasn’t left the sport to become a full-time boxer.
“I don’t know if there are many girls to box, but I want to defend my belt [in Bellatpr],” said Cyborg, who will compete in a 154-pound match. Cyborg said, “I would like to fight MMA again but it is hard to keep doing both [at the same time],. You have to be focused on the one you want.”
“If I have other opportunities [to box], absolutely. We’ll see. We don’t know about tomorrow. We don’t know about tomorrow. Let’s first focus on that one. Then we’ll look at the future. After this, I will be able to answer the question .”
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Cyborg wants to end her MMA career in 2025, two decades after her professional debut. It’s highly unlikely she will fight again under MMA rules this year.
“I believe I’ll do this boxing match and the next one will also be boxing this year,” she said. “I believe [this match] will help open doors. However, nothing is certain. There are rumors, and I believe it will open door for good things in the future.”
Reports indicated earlier this year that a match between Cyborg and multi-title champ Katie Taylor could be in the works for December. Cyborg said for her part, she’s down to dance.
“Who knows,” Cyborg said of meeting the 2012 Olympic gold medalist, who is 21-0 as a professional and has defended the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring female lightweight titles. “Maybe fight her in her area [Ireland], right? They are crazy about the sport there, big fans really. Who knows. Or maybe in Brazil, right? We’ll see.”
Until then, the MMA legend focuses on making her boxing debut at the Athletico Paranaense soccer stadium in Curitiba, the same 45,000-seat venue where she made her octagon debut back at UFC 198 with a knockout over Leslie Smith in 2016.
“I understand it’s different,” she stated, but “but I train hard, excited, and happy .”
Simone Silva holds a professional record of 17-22 in boxing and has shared the ring once against Amanda Serrano, but she enters the match on a nine-match losing skid. Winless in four bouts in 2022 after being knocked out by Jessica Camara in August, Silva is currently serving a 60-day medical suspension by the Texas Combative Sports Program.
Fight Music Show representatives did not reply to an inquiry for comment on Silva’s suspension. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) released a statement to MMA Fighting on Silva booking another match while still serving a suspension.
“Some countries honor TDLR and ABC medical suspensions and others don’t,” the statement read. We are concerned about the safety of fighters and will require Da Silva to undergo EEG/EKG testing if she returns to Texas to fight.
Cyborg admits she hoped to face someone with less experience in her boxing debut, but “my history in MMA wouldn’t allow it.”
“Much respect for her, she’s a pioneer in women’s boxing in Brazil,” Cyborg said prior to the news of Silva’s suspension. “She’s fought for the world title four times, has [39] professional bouts, so I respect her a lot. It was a pleasure to fight her and it will be an exciting challenge for me. This is a new sport, and she’s fought MMA previously. It will be a thrilling fight .”
Cyborg scored 20 of her 26 MMA wins by knockout but said it would be “fantasy” to expect a quick stoppage against a veteran.
“If it ends early, thank you very much and I’m glad it all worked,” Cyborg said, “but if we go eight rounds, I’ll put on a great, technical match, and give my fans a good boxing match.”
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