Ahead of History: Fighting for Legacy, Fighting for Brain Health

On December 13th, I step into the cage once again , this time in Lyon : to compete under the Professional Fighters League banner against an incredible athlete: undefeated Australian standout and 10-time National Judo Team member, Sara Collins.
This fight is special for many reasons. It will mark my 20th World Championship fight in mixed martial arts,  a milestone no other athlete, male or female, has ever reached. Twenty world championship level battles. Twenty moments where preparation, courage, sacrifice, and resilience were tested at the highest level. I don’t take that lightly. I never have.
But today, as I prepare once again for war in the cage, my perspective is bigger than belts, records, or trophies. Today, I’m also fighting for something that will outlast every championship: brain health.
The Evolution of a Fighter

When I started this journey over two decades ago, the conversation around fighter safety and long-term neurological health was very different. We were tough. We pushed through pain. We didn’t talk much about what repeated impacts might mean years down the road.
Now, with more experience,  and with the responsibility of being a veteran, a leader, and a role model, I understand that true greatness is not just about how hard you hit. It’s about how well you protect your most valuable asset: your brain.
Your brain is your command center. It controls your reaction time, your vision, your balance, your emotion, your memory , everything that makes you not just a fighter, but a human being. And in a sport like MMA, protecting it is not optional. It is essential.
Why I Partnered With Neuro42
This belief is exactly why I chose to partner with Neuro42.

Neuro42 is not just another tech company. It is a brain performance and safety company built for the future of human optimization. Their mission aligns with my own values as a professional athlete: performance, protection, longevity, and responsibility.
What excites me most is that Neuro42 is developing scalable brain health technologies that can serve:
Professional athletes
Military and high-risk professions
Youth and amateur sports
Everyday people who care about long-term cognitive health

This is not just about recovery after damage,  it’s about prevention, monitoring, and optimization before damage happens. That shift in thinking is revolutionary.
As someone who has competed at the highest level of combat sports for over 20 years, I’ve seen firsthand how important early detection, proper monitoring, and smart recovery protocols can be. Neuro42 is building tools that could completely change how athletes, teams, and organizations approach brain health in the next decade.
That is why I didn’t just sign on as an athlete. I signed on as an advocate.
World Championships and the Responsibility of Legacy
Reaching a 20th world championship fight is about more than durability. It’s about:
Discipline over decades
Smart training systems
The right recovery strategies

And respecting the body , especially the brain

My legacy is not only about victories. It is about proving that longevity at the highest level is possible when science, preparation, and purpose are aligned.
As I prepare for a physically demanding fight with Sara Collins — an elite judoka with an undefeated record and world-class grip control — every detail matters. Striking, defense, conditioning, strategy, and yes, neurological readiness.
Championship fights are won in milliseconds. The speed of perception. The timing of reaction. The clarity of decision-making under pressure. That is brain performance in real time.

A Message to Athletes, Fans, and Investors
To every athlete reading this: your career does not end when the lights go off in the arena. You deserve clarity, health, and confidence long after competition ends.
To every parent: your child’s brain is more valuable than any trophy.
To every organization and investor watching the future of sports technology: brain health is not a trend — it is the next major frontier in human performance and safety.
Companies like Neuro42 are positioned at the intersection of:
Sports science
Data
AI
Human performance
And preventative medicine

That combination represents not only a massive social impact, but a powerful venture opportunity in a rapidly expanding global market.
December 13th: I Fight With Purpose
On December 13th in Lyon, I will step into the PFL cage once again with the same fire I’ve always had — to compete, to test myself, and to continue making history.
But I will also fight with a deeper purpose:
For longevity.
For the future of athletes.
For smarter training.
For safer competition.
For brain health.
Because true champions don’t just fight for today.
They fight for tomorrow.
I’ll see you in Lyon.
— Cris Cyborg 💪🧠