Cris Cyborg says PFL changed plans after signing for Larissa Pacheco fight

It was supposed to be champion vs. champion, according to Cris Cyborg.

The Bellator women’s featherweight champion says she signed a bout agreement to fight against 2023 PFL season winner Larissa Pacheco in September. The champion showdown was a key missing piece of the big PFL vs. Bellator: Champions event, which took place in February in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Despite putting pen to paper, Cyborg (27-2) is uncertain who she will face in her first fight since the PFL-Bellator acquisition.

“I just signed a deal to fight Larissa Pacheco – it was supposed to be September,” Cyborg told MMA Junkie Radio. “I was really happy. I was doing interviews, ‘Yes, (this is) the next one.’ And then what happened, the PFL talked with my team. They said they changed plans. They didn’t know when the date was going to be, so I’m looking forward to having a meeting with the PFL.”

Cyborg looks to continue her unbeaten run in the boxing ring Saturday when she faces Aria Wild this Saturday at Crypto Fight Night Off-Chain 1 at O2 Arena in London. It will be her second boxing fight since she last competed in MMA, which was a first-round finish of Cat Zingano at Bellator 300 in October.

Soon after her boxing fight, Cyborg hopes she can resume talks about her next MMA appearance, whether it be against Pacheco (23-4) or another key name that may be available.

“It was supposed to be champion vs. champion,” Cyborg said. “If not, if it’s for the Bellator belt, it’s probably going to be No. 1 contender in Bellator, Leah McCourt. Everbody is excited to see this fight, so let’s see. I have a lot of options, so they just have to put the plan together.”