PFL MMA releases 2x Tournament champion Larissa Pacheco

Larissa Pacheco, the only fighter to defeat Kayla Harrison is now a Free Agent.  The former 2x PFL MMA Tournament Champion who won the tournament at 155lbs and 145lbs has been released by the professional fighters league.  Competing against Cyborg during last years Riyadh Season event she went 5 rounds with Cyborg losing 49-46 on all three of the judges scorecards.  “Professional Fighters League has released Larissa Pacheco from her Contract” PFL posted on their official PR social media before continuing with “We thank her for her memorable bouts and wish her the best in her future endeavors.”

Pacheco has spent the past 6 years with the promotion and has been with them since their initial tournaments.  Pacheco had previously fought in the UFC as a Batamweight but had gone 0-2 in the promotion competing at 135lbs.  Moving up to the featherweight and lightweight divisions is where she had her most success.   Wins over Sarah Kaufman, Olen Kolensnyk, Julia Budd and a decisive victory over Kayla Harrison to win the lightweight tournament have placed her as one of the top women fighters in the world.

Defeating Judo Kayla in 2022 Pacheco went on a winning streak 10 fight winning streak including 7 first round knockouts before losing to Cris Cyborg.  With the victory over Larissa Pacheco, Cris Cyborg became the first fighter in Mixed martial arts to capture 5 world championship belts in 5 different MMA promotions.  Having won the Strikeforce, Invicta, UFC, Bellator MMA, and PFL Championships belts Cris Cyborg became the first Royal Grand Slam Champion in the sports history.

Do you think Larissa Pacheco will return to the UFC? Should she try and make the 135lbs Bantamweight limit or do you think the UFC should look at the option of bringing back the 145lbs division? Besides Larissa Pacheco the UFC has other Bantamweights who have struggled with the 135lbs weight limit including Maycee Barber, Macy Chiasson, along with Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes could make for a stacked featherweight division for women at 145lbs.