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 bit of stunning.
Fearsome Cyborg, the Bellator MMA ladies’s featherweight champ, capturing takedowns and grappling? Pacheco trying just like the brisker fighter, cool underneath hearth 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 hearth. Each ladies had been holding their very own and Pacheco seemed to be that uncommon specimen who might deal with the fearsome Cyborg’s energy. The Bellator champ then shot for an additional 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 susceptible 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 could have received her the spherical.
Spherical two had Cyborg displaying injury, a uncommon sight. She modified ranges early, just for Pacheco to drag again. Cyborg fired a head kick, however didn’t have a lot on it. A giant 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 house to work; that appeared simpler mentioned than performed. 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. Possible one other spherical for Cris Cyborg.
Cyborg used a bit of 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 trying a step slower. She had one other path of blood trickling down one aspect of her face, and had eaten various Pacheco leg kicks. These kicks had been cash for Larissa Pacheco, who additionally discovered success countering Cyborg along with her proper hand. Pacheco regarded recent as a daisy compared to Cyborg, however an overhand proper from the legend had Pacheco retreating, and Cyborg on the assault! Pacheco, overlaying 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 doubtlessly tied. If that was the case, it was going to return 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, nonetheless, Pacheco did as properly, at the very same time, with each simply lacking. Pacheco then fell again on her low kicks, however Cyborg had a giant second, unleashing a combo and bullying Pacheco again.
Pacheco went after a desperation takedown however survived, they usually received again to the toes. Lower than half a spherical remained. Once more, Cyborg took some massive swings. The fitting hand was uncorked once more within the ultimate 90 seconds of the combat, Cyborg seeking 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 means of it; she backed off to let Pacheco out, they usually each took a couple of ultimate swings previous to the bell.
In the long run, all 4 judges sided with Cris Cyborg, although the combat was not with out its adversity. Pacheco, the truth is, 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 Outcome: Cris Cyborg def. Larissa Pacheco by unanimous choice (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
