Cris Cyborg Brings Brazilian National Wrestler Eduarda “Duda” Rodrigues Into Training Camp Ahead of PFL Return

When Cris Cyborg steps into the PFL SmartCage on August 22, she knows she will be facing one of the most accomplished grapplers of her legendary career. That’s why the 18-time MMA World Champion has once again assembled a world-class training camp, bringing in elite talent to prepare for every aspect of the matchup.

Among the standout additions to camp is Eduarda “Duda” Rodrigues, one of Brazil’s brightest young wrestling stars and a member of the Brazilian National Wrestling Team.

At just 20 years old, Rodrigues has already established herself as one of the top young wrestlers in the world. A California State Wrestling Champion and High School All-American, Duda has continued her rapid rise on the international stage by winning the 2025 U20 Pan American Championship and earning a bronze medal at the 2025 U20 World Championships. Her success has also attracted the attention of Nike, making her one of the company’s sponsored athletes.

For Cyborg, Rodrigues brings much more than an impressive résumé.

The two share roots in Curitiba, Brazil, a city that has produced some of the country’s greatest combat sports athletes. While Rodrigues represents the next generation of Brazilian wrestling, Cyborg continues to build one of the most decorated careers in mixed martial arts history.

The age difference between the two highlights just how long Cyborg has competed at the highest level. Rodrigues wasn’t even born when Cyborg made her professional MMA debut in May 2005. More than two decades later, Cyborg is still competing for world championships while training alongside athletes young enough to have grown up watching her career.

Preparing for an Elite Opponent

The decision to bring Rodrigues into camp reflects the challenge awaiting Cyborg on August 22.

Standing across from her will be Ketlen Vieira, one of the most accomplished wrestlers in women’s mixed martial arts. A former member of the Brazilian National Wrestling Team, Vieira climbed as high as No. 3 in the UFC women’s bantamweight rankings, building a reputation as one of the toughest competitors in the division.

Vieira’s credentials extend well beyond her wrestling background. She is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a black belt in Judo, giving her one of the most complete grappling skill sets in the sport. Throughout her UFC career, she also established herself as one of the promotion’s leaders in takedown defense while earning victories over some of the biggest names in women’s MMA including Holly Holm, Miesha Tate, Sara McMann, and Cat Zingano.

For Cyborg, preparing for an athlete with Vieira’s credentials requires training partners capable of replicating the pace, athleticism, and technical wrestling that will be waiting inside the cage.

Rodrigues provides exactly that.

Championship Camps Are Built on Elite Preparation

For nearly twenty years, Cyborg has earned a reputation for seeking out the toughest possible training environments.

Whether preparing alongside world champions in boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, or wrestling, she has consistently believed that elite competition is built through elite preparation.

Rodrigues has become an important part of that formula.

As an active member of Brazil’s National Wrestling Team competing against the best young wrestlers in the world, she brings a level of intensity that mirrors the challenge Cyborg expects from Vieira. Every wrestling exchange, scramble, and positional battle helps sharpen the skills needed to compete against one of the sport’s premier grapplers.

The partnership also symbolizes the strength of Brazilian combat sports, with one generation of champions helping prepare another to continue competing at the highest level.

Another Historic Opportunity

The matchup with Vieira represents far more than another fight.

A victory over one of the world’s top-ranked grapplers would strengthen Cyborg’s case for a blockbuster showdown with the winner of the anticipated championship fight between Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison, a matchup many fans consider one of the biggest opportunities remaining in women’s MMA.

History is also within reach.

A win on August 22 would make Cris Cyborg the first woman in MMA history to reach 30 professional victories. It would also mark her 19th MMA world championship victory, extending a record that further separates her from every other fighter in the sport.

Those milestones are only possible through relentless preparation, and adding Eduarda “Duda” Rodrigues to training camp is another example of Cyborg’s commitment to leaving no detail overlooked.

Facing a world-class wrestler like Ketlen Vieira demands world-class preparation. By surrounding herself with one of Brazil’s top young wrestling talents, Cyborg is once again proving why she has remained at the top of women’s mixed martial arts for more than two decades.

On August 22, all of that preparation will be tested as Cyborg looks to make history once again inside the PFL SmartCage.