PFL Signs Two-Time French Olympic Wrestler Cynthia Vescan

We have signed 2x French Olympian Wrestler Cynthia Vescan to the PFL roster!

— PFL MMA (@ProFightLeague) March 18, 2021

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The Professional Fighters League is looking for ways to bolster its lone women’s division, and did so by signing a talented international wrestler.

The tournament-based league released a press statement on Thursday announcing that it had signed Cynthia Vanessa Vescan (0-0) to its roster. The French freestyle wrestler has not yet competed in MMA, and she had to delay her training by several years due to her involvement in both the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. Vescan competed at women’s heavyweight at 72 kg (158.4 pounds), where she placed 12th in 2012 and 16th in 2016. She also earned a bronze medal in the European championships in 2018.

PFL President of Fighter Operations Ray Sefo briefly expressed his enthusiasm for her signing, saying, “I am excited to announce that the PFL has signed Cynthia Vescan, a two-time Olympic freestyle wrestler. Adding a fighter of Olympic caliber in Cynthia Vescan further elevates PFL’s global reach and international expansion.”

Vescan is not slated to compete in the 2021 PFL season, although like fellow newcomer Claressa Shields, she will be fighting at an upcoming PFL event in a non-tournament bout. It is unclear if she will be facing Shields, or if the two MMA neophytes will receive differing opponents. Even if she is not competing in this year’s tournament, she has her sights set on a future opportunity to win the top prize.

“My goal at the PFL is to be the best, compete for the one-million-dollar prize, and to continue making positive changes in my life,” Vescan explained in the press release. “I still have things to do in sport! I am excited to make my debut in MMA with the Professional Fighters League.”