Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco, 2024 PFL Superfights PPV: Battle of the Giants press convention on the Mayadeen Theater in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. (Matt Ferris / PFL)
It wasn’t a barn burner, nor a firefight, however the PFL Battle of the Giants co-main occasion between Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco was each entertaining, and a little bit shocking.
Fearsome Cyborg, the Bellator MMA ladies’s featherweight champ, capturing takedowns and grappling? Pacheco wanting just like the more energizing fighter, cool underneath fireplace always and in a position to maintain her personal within the stand-up?
Within the opening spherical, it was Cris Cyborg within the driver’s seat alongside the fence. She tied up Pacheco; they then fired heavy pictures off the break. Pacheco was bloodied by the ear.
Because the spherical went on, Cyborg landed a takedown, and regarded to safe a Von Flue choke. Pacheco survived, and again on the toes, the pair exchanged fireplace. Each ladies had been holding their very own and Pacheco gave the impression to be that uncommon specimen who might deal with the fearsome Cyborg’s energy. The Bellator champ then shot for one more takedown, however Pacheco stayed upright, along with her again to the fence. That mentioned, off the break, Cyborg fired a left. One other takedown try from Cyborg noticed her shoot right into a guillotine, deep into it — however Pacheco didn’t fairly have it, and was vulnerable to burning out her arm.
Cyborg would escape, and end the spherical on high in a really aggressive opening body. The takedown mixed with a glancing head kick might have gained her the spherical.
Spherical two had Cyborg exhibiting injury, a uncommon sight. She modified ranges early, just for Pacheco to tug again. Cyborg fired a head kick, however didn’t have a lot on it. An enormous swing fanned for Cyborg as Pacheco retreated.
On the halfway mark, Cyborg timed a takedown completely, and planted Pacheco on her again. The pair had been alongside the fence, with Cyborg on high in half guard. Pacheco tried to border Cyborg off with an elbow throughout the neck. The Bellator champ regarded to land the odd punch and create some area to work; that appeared simpler mentioned than accomplished. With 30 seconds or so on the clock the ref stood them up, with little of observe from there as they headed to the third. Seemingly one other spherical for Cris Cyborg.
Cyborg used a little bit extra motion and stayed exterior within the third, resulting in Pacheco standing nonetheless, elevating her arms, and suggesting that her fellow Brazilian didn’t wish to interact. Pacheco fired a leg kick once they did come collectively. On this spherical, when the grappling got here into play, it was Pacheco who was in a position to get on high. Cyborg was in opposition to the fence, Pacheco in her guard, with about two minutes on the clock. Cyborg closed her guard and tried to tie up Pacheco, clearly having accepted the place. Pacheco completed the spherical on high.
Spherical 4 noticed Cyborg wanting a step slower. She had one other path of blood trickling down one aspect of her face, and had eaten numerous Pacheco leg kicks. These kicks had been cash for Larissa Pacheco, who additionally discovered success countering Cyborg along with her proper hand. Pacheco regarded contemporary as a daisy compared to Cyborg, however an overhand proper from the legend had Pacheco retreating, and Cyborg on the assault! Pacheco, masking up, survived. Moments later, Pacheco countered a Cyborg kick with that laser-accurate proper hand. Cyborg linked along with her left in response.
The fifth and ultimate body had Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco probably tied. If that was the case, it was going to come back all the way down to who had extra within the tank. Maybe with that in thoughts, Cyborg got here out swinging. Like a mirror picture, nevertheless, Pacheco did as properly, at the very same time, with each simply lacking. Pacheco then fell again on her low kicks, however Cyborg had an enormous second, unleashing a combo and bullying Pacheco again.
Pacheco went after a desperation takedown however survived, they usually bought again to the toes. Lower than half a spherical remained. Once more, Cyborg took some massive swings. The correct hand was uncorked once more within the ultimate 90 seconds of the struggle, Cyborg trying to put Pacheco to sleep. One other proper adopted moments later, and Pacheco was compelled to again off. Cyborg then landed a ultimate takedown, almost rolling by way of it; she backed off to let Pacheco out, they usually each took a number of ultimate swings previous to the bell.
Ultimately, all 4 judges sided with Cris Cyborg, although the struggle was not with out its adversity. Pacheco, actually, arguably gave Cyborg her hardest take a look at since Amanda Nunes knocked her out throughout her UFC run. Nonetheless, it was Cyborg making historical past, including a PFL SuperFight title to her Invicta, Strikeforce, Bellator, and UFC belts.
Official Consequence: Cris Cyborg def. Larissa Pacheco by unanimous resolution (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
