MMA legend Cris Cyborg hopes that Ronda Rousey does return to the ring in 2026, with the 38-year-old reportedly set to fight boxing great Katie Taylor.
Boxing or MMA, Rousey hasn’t fought since crushing losses to Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes in the UFC back in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
She then moved over to the WWE and was initially quite successful, becoming part of the first women’s main event in WrestleMania history.
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Cris Cyborg and Ronda Rousey. Getty
But a return, even if it’s in boxing, has Cyborg excited. The 40-year-old Brazilian fighter believes Rousey sent a poor message to her fans by quitting the sport when the going got tough.
“The reality is I didn’t really believe this fight (with Taylor) would come true after how she finished her career in MMA,” Cyborg told Wide World of Sports.
“I don’t think she’ll go back to MMA. Boxing I think makes sense because the strong part of her career was her judo.
“If she comes back it’ll be amazing because you have to show your fans you can overcome the last few losses of her career. You cannot show young girls that when you have a hard time and when you lose, that you quit.
“I hope she comes back and sends a different message.”
Watch all the action from PFL Lyon 2025, including Cris Cyborg vs Sara Collins on December 14, live and on demand on Stan Sport
Rousey stated in her book that part of her decision to move on from the UFC was due to suffering multiple concussions.
Cyborg, who holds a 28-2 all-time MMA record, will fight 6-0 Australian Sara Collins on Pro Fight League’s card in Lyon, France on Sunday.
Australian MMA fighter Sara Collins during the Professional Fighters League Pacific Launch. Getty
She has enormous respect for Collins for taking the fight, saying most judo specialists have no interest in getting in the cage with her, including Rousey.
When asked if she’d fight Rousey in a boxing bout instead, the Brazilian said she was up for anything.
“Anything (boxing or MMA), but she (Rousey) just runs away, so I don’t think she wants that,” Cyborg laughed.
“Actually all of the judo girls run away from me. Sara Collins, thank you for taking this fight, it’s good.
“I respect all my opponents for sure. It’s not easy to step into the cage. I’ve got much respect for Sara.”
Cyborg’s first ever MMA fight was a loss against Erica Paes back in 2005. From that point onwards, she would go on to win 19 straight fights, main-eventing multiple UFC cards across 2017 and 2018.
Her second loss then came later in 2018 against an up and coming Amanda Nunes, who quickly became the next big thing in women’s MMA.
Nunes beat everyone from Ronda Rousey to Holly Holm to Miesha Tate and quickly established herself as the dominant fighter of the 2010s, before stepping away in 2023.
Amanda Nunes in 2025. Zuffa LLC
However, she is set to return to the UFC cage in January, fighting 35-year-old American Kalya Harrison.
Cyborg says she has a lot of respect for Nunes and is excited to watch the 37-year-old fight once more.
“I was already of the thinking that (Nunes) retired very young,” she said.
“I was already thinking that she would come back. It doesn’t surprise me.
“And it’s nice. It’s going to be a big fight against Kayla. I’m excited to watch that fight.”
Cris Cyborg walks out ahead of the Women’s Featherweight World Title fight. Getty
Cyborg has confirmed that 2026 will be her last year as a fighter. After Collins in France, she is contracted for one more fight with PFL.
But she was coy on a potential return to the UFC octagon before her career finishes up.
“I’m here for the PFL and fighting Sara Collins in Lyon, that’s it for now,” she said.
Cyborg’s last UFC fight was a unanimous decision win over Felicia Spencer back in 2019.
Since then, she has fought mostly for Bellator when it comes to MMA, before moving over to PFL Super Fights in 2024, where she defeated Larissa Pacheco and is now scheduled to fight Collins.