The PFL featherweight championship has been removed from the upcoming bout featuring Cris 'Cyborg' Justino. This follows a significant weight miss by her opponnt, Julia Budd, who arrived at the scales 7.2 pounds over the featherweight limit.
The 29-2 legacy of Cris 'Cyborg' Justino
Cris 'Cyborg' Justino enters this potential final appearance with a storied career, boasting a professional record of 29-2. As reported by the source, the Brazilian veteran has maintained an undefeated 8-0 run across both Bellator and PFL competitions. Her dominance spans multiple major organizations, icnluding previous championship reigns in the UFC and Strikeforce.
Justino is widely regarded as one of the most dominant female fighters in MMA history. Her most recent professional setback occurred in 2018 during a bout against Amanda Nunes. Despite that loss, her upcoming fight in Tampa remains a massive event for the sport, even if the championship hardware is no longer part of the equation.
Julia Budd's 152.2-pound weigh-in failure
Julia Budd failed to meet the necessary featherweight requirements,weighing in at 152.2 pounds.. This 7.2-pound surplus means that while the fight will proceed as scheduled, Budd is ineligible to claim the PFL featherweight world championship. According to the report, Budd will also face a financial penalty through a percentage of her purse.
The Nova Uniao product has sttruggled to find consistent form recently, holding a 2-2 record in her last four fights. Her most recent victory was recorded against Pam Sorenson in 2021. Despite her "Fenomeno" nickname, the weight miss represents a significant professional setback heading into the ESPN broadcast.
How the 7.2-pound miss strips the PFL title
The removal of the championship belt changes the fundamental gravity of what is being framed as Justino's retirement fight. While Justino has remained deiant, citnig her "Chute Boxe style" in response to the news, the absence of the title leaves a void in the prestige of the event. For a fighter who has held titles in nearly every major organization, a non-title bout for her final outing is a stark departure from the expected climax.
The fight will still take place as part of the PFL Tampa card, which is scheduled to air live on ESPN. The early card is set to begin at 5:30 p.m. ET, with the main card kicking off at 9 p.m. ET. However, the narrative has shifted from a quest for gold to a standard grudge match.
Missing details for the PFL Tampa ESPN broadcast
Several specifics regarding the fallout of the weigh-in remain unconfirmed. It is currently unclear how the PFL will calculate the exact fine for Budd or if there will be further disciplinary actions regarding her preparation. Additionally, while the fight remains on the ESPN card, the source does not clarify if the lack of a title will impact the promotion's marketing or viewer expectations for the main card.
The combat sports community is also left wondering if the fight's status as a "retirement fight" holds the same weight without the championship on the line. Whether the audience remains as engaged without the title stakes is a question that will only be answered when the cage door closes in Tampa.
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