Cyborg Submits Collins With Third-Round Choke
Cris Cyborg submitted Sara Collins in the third round of their featherweight championship fight on December 13, 2025, at LDLC Arena in Lyon. The official rear-naked-choke finish came at 2:55, keeping the PFL women’s featherweight title with Cyborg.
The unbeaten challenger brought a different grappling challenge
Collins entered with six professional victories and a background on Australia’s national judo team. Cyborg had won the PFL title against Larissa Pacheco in October 2024.
Both women weighed 144.6 pounds before the Lyon co-main event. The matchup paired the champion’s extensive experience with a challenger who had already found success in Bellator.
Cyborg combined striking pressure with defensive submission threats
The champion landed right hands, kicks and body attacks during the opening rounds. Collins also found takedowns, requiring Cyborg to defend and work from underneath.
In the second, Cyborg threatened an armbar and triangle before returning to her feet. She continued using fence pressure and close-range offense rather than allowing the takedown exchanges to dictate the entire contest.
A third-round reversal produced the decisive back attack
Collins completed a judo throw in the third and threatened an Americana. Cyborg defended, moved behind her opponent and locked the finishing hold around the neck and jaw.
Collins submitted, suffering her first professional defeat. Cyborg earned only the second submission victory of her MMA career, adding a grappling finish to a championship record more commonly associated with striking power.
Sources
- PFL: official submission, background and round report
- PFL: December 13 date, venue and official weights
- MMA News: third-round reversal and title retention
