Nemkov and Cyborg Reign Supreme at PFL Lyon, Cementing new Era for MMA Promotion
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PFL (Professional Fighters League) continued its evolution Saturday, crowning two new champions at PFL Lyon – Vadim Nemkov in the heavyweight division and Cris Cyborg in the women’s featherweight division. The event,held at the LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu,France,showcased the promotion’s commitment to high-level competition and strategic expansion. The victories by Nemkov and Cyborg underscore the PFL’s growing appeal to established stars from other organizations.
nemkov Dominates Ferreira for Heavyweight Crown
Vadim Nemkov, a former Bellator MMA light heavyweight champion, wasted no time establishing his dominance against Renan Ferreira in the main event. The 33-year-old Russian (19-2, 1 NC), trained by MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko, secured a takedown within the first minute and controlled the remainder of the round. He ultimately finished Ferreira with a precise arm triangle choke at the 4-minute mark of Round 1.
Ferreira (13-5, 3 NCs), the 2023 PFL heavyweight champion under the previous season structure, entered the bout significantly heavier than Nemkov, weighing in at 258.8 pounds compared to Nemkov’s 241.9.Despite the size difference, the fight quickly transitioned to the mat, where Nemkov’s grappling prowess proved decisive. “My plan was to wrestle with him because he’s so tall and he’s a good striker,” Nemkov explained through an interpreter, referencing ferreira’s 6-foot-8 frame. “I’m multidimensional, so for me it was better to wrestle.”
Cyborg Adds Another Title, Hints at MMA Farewell
In the co-main event, Cris Cyborg (29-2, 1 NC) added yet another championship to her illustrious career, defeating Sara Collins via rear-naked choke at 2:55 of the third round. The victory came after Cyborg successfully defended against a third-round submission attempt by Collins, a former judo international.
Cyborg, 40, has become a singular force in women’s MMA, having previously held titles in UFC, Invicta FC, Strikeforce, and Bellator – making her the only fighter to achieve an MMA “grand slam.” Last year, she added a PFL Super fights championship to her collection. However, following Saturday’s win, Cyborg announced her intention to compete in just one more MMA bout before transitioning her focus to boxing.”I’ve been working this defense for judo side control,” cyborg stated after the fight.
Looking ahead, Cyborg initially expressed interest in a final showdown against former Bellator featherweight champion Leah McCourt. Recognizing McCourt’s 15-month period of inactivity, Cyborg then proposed a potential “superfight” against undefeated flyweight Dakota Ditcheva. “Meet me in the middle,” Cyborg challenged, suggesting a 135-pound catchweight bout between the two fighters, acknowledging Ditcheva’s success in the 125-pound division.
PFL’s Evolution Continues with Upcoming Title Defenses
The crowning of Nemkov and Cyborg represents a significant step in the PFL’s evolution beyond its original season format. The organization has already awarded championships this year at middleweight (Costello van Steenis), light heavyweight (Corey Anderson), and lightweight (Usman nurmagomedov).
the PFL has also announced upcoming title defenses to further solidify its championship roster. Costello van Steenis will defend his middleweight title against Fabian Edwards on March 20 in Madrid, a rematch of their 2020 Bellator encounter. Usman Nurmagomedov is scheduled to defend his lightweight title against Alfie Davis on February 7 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. That same night,Ramazan Kuramagomedov will compete against Shamil Musaev for the vacant welterweight title.
These developments demonstrate the PFL’s ambition to establish itself as a major player in the global MMA landscape, attracting top talent and delivering compelling matchups to fans worldwide.