Several issues present themselves to Cris Cyborg as she alternates between her MMA and boxing careers.
The Bellator MMA featherweight champion has practiced jiu-jitsu and wrestling for several years, neither of which help her in the boxing ring.
And sure, a fight is a fight, but the timing and pace of the sweet science vary from mixed martial arts, as well as the cardio. And at 38, Cyborg is still in phenomenal condition.
To the combat sports legend, the biggest challenge, as she steps back between the ropes Friday night against undefeated Kelsey Wickstrum on Friday night in the WFC 163 main event at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, is what she has also tried to implement in her MMA career of late.
“I believe it’s the patience. In MMA, I’m getting patient but the reality is, in boxing, it’s not all about punches. In boxing, it’s heart,” the hard-throwing Cyborg said in a recent interview. “In MMA, you set up the punches to say like, ‘OK, I gonna go for a takedown.’ But in boxing, the different set-up is now, ‘OK, now I’m gonna take this one because I’m gonna give another one.’”
And that patience becomes more magnified and scrutinized as Cyborg, who won a boxing exhibition and then her pro boxing debut – both via unanimous decision – in 2022, goes back to the world of two-minute rounds. Friday’s bout, which will be contested at 154 pounds, is scheduled for six rounds.
In MMA, Cyborg has five minutes to earn a judge’s 10 points per round – not that she needed in her last title defense in which she thrashed Cat Zingano for a TKO victory in 4:01 at Bellator 300 on Oct. 7 in San Diego.
“It’s different mentally and for sure it’s a different strategy,” said the Huntington Beach resident, who trained with Jose Benavidez Jr., father to former boxing champions Jose Benavidez Jr. and David Benavidez, in Seattle for this bout.
“In MMA, you can have a little bit of a break like, ‘OK, I’m gonna kick, I’m gonna do a push kick and then I’m gonna hunt for a takedown.’ In boxing, you’re like, well, you punch or you defend or you move around. Like it’s very quick.”
Wickstrum, 36, is 2-0 as a pro boxer with one knockout. Cyborg isn’t taking the Redding super welterweight lightly.
“I know she’s had some experience. I know she has heart. Technical,” Cyborg said.
All the talk, however, is about that next opponent in that other sport. Speculation is swirling over an MMA showdown with PFL star Kayla Harrison, especially after PFL recently bought Bellator.
Cyborg says PFL CEO Peter Murray contacted her team about fighting Harrison on a massive PFL vs. Bellator card on Feb. 24 in Saudi Arabia. Cyborg said she accepted but a contract never arrived.
PFL founder Donn Davis, in an appearance Wednesday on “The MMA Hour” with Ariel Helwani, cited “injuries, schedules, conflicts and opinions” for why they’re not fighting, all while touting PFL featherweight champ Larissa Pacheco as willing to fight either of them at any time.
One key factor: PFL says Harrison has one fight left on her contract while Harrison and her team believe she’s a free agent. Cyborg, meanwhile, has her sights set solely on Harrison happening sometime this year.
Again, it’s all about patience.
“This fight has been the talk for three years, right? I don’t know what their job is to make this fight happen. I think the fans would like to see this fight,” Cyborg said. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I know it’s not my problem. I know she’s supposed to be the next one.”
WFC 163
What: Cris Cyborg vs. Kelsey Wickstrum
When: Friday night
Where: Pechanga Resort Casino, Temecula
How to watch: SpectationSports.Com
