Conor McGregor sparring partner Eoin Sheridan booked for US debut on Cris Cyborg retirement card

Eoin Sheridan will make his US debut on August 22 at PFL Tampa, where legend Cris Cyborg is set to retire.

Sheridan was one of Conor McGregor‘s training partners at Straight Blast Gym (SBG) Ireland before the latter’s nightmare fighting return against Max Holloway at UFC 329.

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The Dubliner stands at 6’5″ and is 5-0 in his professional MMA career.

Last time out at PFL Belfast in April, Sheridan claimed a unanimous decision over No.9-ranked welterweight Chris Mixan.

His opponent for the Tampa card is New Zealander James Vake, who boasts a 7-2 record and trains under Israel Adesanya’s former famed coach Eugene Bareman at City Kickboxing in Auckland.

Sheridan eyes top five

Speaking to talkSPORT.com following the news of his fight against Vake, Sheridan said he looks forward to cementing his name in the top ten with a victory over Vake.

He added that an opponent in the top five will be next on the list, with stars like Patrick Habirora and Thad Jean all high up the PFL’s welterweight rankings.

“The Sheriff is coming to lay down the law. James is getting sentenced,” he said.

Cyborg nears the end

Meanwhile, the main event of PFL Tampa sees Cyborg defend her women’s featherweight title in a retirement bout against newly signed Ketlen Vieira.

Cyborg, 29-2, retained her title against Sara Collins in the co-main event of PFL Lyon in her last MMA fight.

The Brazilian, who turned 41 this month, plans to contest one final boxing match after her Tampa headliner before retiring to become a mother and start a family.

She has continued to mix it up in both MMA and boxing since leaving the UFC in 2019.

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Before her last outing in December, Cyborg explained to talkSPORT.com what keeps her going at this stage of her career.

“I love my job. I love work, so this motivates me every day,” Cyborg said.

“I’m very thankful to the fans who have supported me for 20 years in my career.

“I always like to be training, but [it’s good] when you have a fight to train differently, and I really love boxing.

“I had my first fight in 2022 and now I’ve stopped. Once I’m done in MMA, I will start to put forward training for boxing, learning, and I would like to finish my career fighting for a world title in boxing.

“I know it’s a lot of things to think about, but it’s one thing to motivate me every morning to train.”

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Vieira, meanwhile, was released from the UFC in May as the promotion’s No. 5-ranked women’s bantamweight.

She had been in Dana White‘s promotion for almost ten years, defeating Jacqueline Cavalcanti in her last fight on a Fight Night card in the same month she was cut.

Undefeated Polish lightweight Jakub Kaszuba, exciting bantamweight talent Gustavo Oliveira and Briton Luke Trainer are other notable names fighting at the PFL Tampa show.