2023 PFL champion Larissa Pacheco expects 'legendary fight' against Cris Cyborg: 'It's going to be a war'
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Larissa Pacheco looks to have a big fight lined up next.
After winning the 2023 PFL women’s featherweight title, PFL founder Donn Davis told media in attendance that Pacheco (23-4) is expected to now fight Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg in her next outing.
Pacheco who defeated Marina Mokhnatkina (11-4) in a unanimous decision at 2023 PFL Championship at The Anthem in Washington, D.C. to crown herself a two-time PFL champion, expects a wild fight against Cyborg.
“It’s going to be a war,” Pacheco told MMA Junkie through an interpreter. “She’s Brazilian and so am I. She’s not going to give up and neither am I. I’m going to prepare a lot for when that happens. I don’t have a prediction for that fight, just that it’s going to be a legendary fight.”
Many thought that Kayla Harrison would be the one to fight Cyborg first, given they’ve long teased a fight between the two and have a degree of bad blood.
When asked about Harrison not getting the chance, Pacheco said she’s got to get in line.
“The reality is that she was the champion, and she was a two-time champion,” Pacheco said. “Before she was like, ‘Oh, I’m two-time champion. I’ve won the championship twice,’ but now I’m a two-time champion, and there’s nothing more fair than for me to get that fight instead of her.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2023 PFL Championship.