A massive UFC women’s championship fight is on the horizon, and all-time great Cris Cyborg is excited to see how it plays out.
UFC women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison welcomes back former teammate and two-division champion Amanda Nunes, who’s considered by many the greatest female MMA fighter of all time. The two are set to clash in the co-main event of UFC 324 on Jan. 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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Cyborg has history with both ladies. She fought and lost to Nunes in one of the biggest women’s fights in MMA history and was linked to fight Harrison for a long time in the PFL, but the bout never materialized. Cyborg sees Harrison vs. Nunes as a competitive affair and believes this is anyone’s fight.
“For me, it doesn’t matter who wins. I’m going to be watching, and I’m very excited for the fight,” Cyborg told MMA Junkie Radio. “I’m very happy for Amanda to come back and fight again, I think she retired too young. Hopefully she’s been training hard for this fight because Kayla is active, and she’s been training and fighting, and I think that’s important. That’s an advantage I believe she has against Amanda Nunes. Amanda is a dangerous fighter, but Kayla is active fighting all the time, so that’s going to be a difference in this fight, but you know what Amanda is capable of.
“Amanda has heavy hands, and if the fight goes the way she wants, I believe she’ll have the victory, but Kayla likes to get the double legs. And for Amanda to win she has to defend that and keep the striking game to get the victory. I’m excited to see who has the best game for the fight, and who’s going to win that night.”
For many years, Cyborg (28-2) was asked about a potential rematch with Nunes and potential grudge match with Harrison. Although many held out hope, even as Cyborg moved out from the UFC to other organizations, that those fights would happen, they’re now completely out of the picture.
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Cyborg recently announced her plan to retire, which first involves fighting Sara Collins (6-0) for the PFL women’s featherweight title at PFL Lyon (ESPN Unlmtd) and one more MMA fight in 2026. PFL Lyon goes down this Saturday at LDLC Arena in Lyon, France.
“I was planning to retire at 40, but my contract is going to be next year, and next year I will complete 21 years, and my plan is to complete 20,” Cyborg explained. “You know I love my job, I love what I do, but I have different goals in my life, too. I would like to have a family – I do have a family, my daughter, my niece is my daughter, my fiancée is with me, too. I have a plan. I want to be a vet. I did complete 20 years. I love my job. I feel great. I feel blessed. I think all the sport I did before MMA to just prepare my body to be an MMA fighter, so I’m very grateful, but I’m ready for a different chapter in my life. I’m ready.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Cris Cyborg breaks down Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes at UFC 324
