LARISSA PACHECO PULLS OFF A HUGE UPSET OVER KAYLA HARRISON ON PFL
By PFL MMA
New York, NY (November 26th, 2022)– Just like that, the 2022 PFL Season comes to a head here and now as reigning champ Kayla Harrison (15-0) was looking to become the 1st ever PFL fighter to win 3 consecutive World Championships. Across from Harrison was the #1 seed knockout artist Larissa Pacheco (18-4) who rode a streak of 5 straight 1st round finishes coming into this bout.
A rematch 3 years in the making, Pacheco was able to push Harrison to her limit in their 1st 2 meetings, ultimately dropping both by decision. Pacheco has been a different beast since those losses and proved she made the improvements to her game that allowed her to finally win a 2022 PFL World Championship and dethrone her old nemesis in an upset-of-the-year contender. Check out the highlights below.
Round 1
The bell rings and our final bout of the evening is underway! Harrison lands a nice outside low kick as booth fighters feel each other out and try to find the range early.
Harrison fires a heavy front kick up the middle but misses the target as both women land some big shots. The fighters clinch and Harrison is able to secure an outside trip and land in side control but Pacheco quickly works to recover her full guard.
Harrison is posturing up and doing big damage early here as Pacheco finds herself facing some early adversity 2 minutes into the fight. Harrison passes to half guard briefly but Pacheco regards despite taking some big shots.
Harrison is doing a great job using her forearm to frame off on Pacheco and land big shots from the top, and puzzlingly Pacheco seems content to accept a bad position here for the time being.
Now, Pacheco threatens some offense by throwing up an armbar but she doesn’t have the angle because of where she is on the fence. Harrison stands up and Pacheco lands some heavy low kicks from the bottom as Harrison looks for her opening to get back inside, and she does, landing a big right hand on the way down with 30 seconds remaining.
Pacheco gives up her back but with only 10 seconds to work Harrison likely doesn’t have enough time to finish, and the round will end there.
Round 2
Pacheco is wearing some damage as we begin our 2nd round. Oh! Harrison gets dropped briefly but recovers instantly, landing a massive overhand left.
Harrison seems to have a bit more respect for the power of Pacheco now as she changes levels but can’t finish the takedown. Harrison continues in the clinch though but Pacheco locks up a guillotine! There was real danger there for a moment but Harrison scrambles perfectly and starts building back to her feet, getting there and driving Pacheco into the fence.
Harrison now pummels for position halfway through the round but can’t seem to get Pacheco to the mat. They break the clinch and Pacheco lands a nice right hook on the exit as Harrison appears to be getting a little flustered.
Pacheco lands a clean uppercut on the entrance and seems to have Harrison hurt! Harrison overcommits on a takedown and Pacheco is able to hit a fireman’s carry to stay out of danger as the round ends.
Round 3
We’re underway in a pivotal 3rd round and Harrison eats a kick as she changes levels. This time however Harrison is able to finish the single leg and wind up on top, but Pacheco is staying busy with strikes off her back.
Harrison is starting to posture up and do some damage but Pacheco throws up a triangle and that is tight! Pacheco continues to soften Harrison up with hammerfists from the bottom and she’s holding onto that triangle choke for dear life.
Pacheco transitions to a belly down armbar but Harrison is able to get out of danger and take Pacheco’s back! What a grappling exchange!
Harrison passes into mount from half guard and has 90 seconds to work for a finish from here as she begins unloading some ground and pound.
With 20 seconds remaining Harrison postures up and lands some massive shots, but she won’t be able to finish in this round.
Round 4
The championship rounds begin with Pacheco on the front foot and another unsuccessful takedown attempt from Harrison. Harrison however stays with it and finishes a blast double leg to wind up in half guard.
Pacheco is able to scramble her way to top position before taking Harrison’s back and starting to attack submissions but she can’t hold the position long as Harrison explodes and reverses her way back to the top.
The fighters return to their feet and Harrison appears to be attacking a guillotine, eventually using it to drag Pacheco down to the mat and take her back with 2 minutes to go in the round.
Pacheco recovers quickly, however, getting back to her feet before they hit the mat again with Pacheco scrambling into top position. This has easily been the most adversity Harrison has faced in her MMA career.
Pacheco does some heavy damage before they get back to the feet and Pacheco lands another power hook for good measure, possibly stealing the round with that exchange. We’ve got a fight heading into our final round of the 2022 PFL Season!
Round 5
Our final round is underway in what could very easily be a tied fight! Pacheco appears to be the fresher fighter right now as Harrison locks up the clinch and starts looking for takedowns.
Harrison lands the whizzer kick but can’t maintain control as Pacheco pops right back up to her feet. Harrison seems reluctant to break the clinch here as she attacks a single leg and Pacheco punishes her for not protecting herself.
Pacheco is pouring the damage on now as Harrison clings to the single leg. Pacheco takes the back with 2 minutes to go but Harrison expertly transitions, gets her hip to the mat, and reverses position to wind up on top, but Pacheco is still landing heavy shots from her back.
Preliminary Card Highlights
Biaggio Ali Walsh def. Tom Graesser
Biaggio Ali Walsh kicked off the prelims of the 2022 PFL World Championship when he brutalized Tom Graesser in their amateur lightweight matchup.
Dakota Ditcheva def. Katherine Corogenes
Dakota Ditcheva earned her second first-round finish in as many fights for PFL when she hurt Katherine Corogenes with a knee before ending things with punches.
Natan Schulte def. Jeremy Stephens
After Jeremy Stephens escaped a few submissions attempts in the first round, Natan Schulte took thing right back to the ground in the second round and forced a tap from “Lil’ Heathen.”
Sheymon Moraes def. Marlon Moraes
Marlon Moraes’ PFL debut appeared to be going well until Sheymon Moraes caught the 34-year-old with a combination in the third round and finished things off with hammer fists.
PPV Main Card Highlights
Rob Wilkinson def. Omari Akhmedov
Rob Wilkinson capped off a tremendous first year in PFL by defeating Omar Akhmedov to earn his fourth-straight stoppage win and claim the 2022 PFL light heavyweight championship.
Sadibou Sy def. Dilano Taylor
It wasn’t the most action-packed title fight, but Sadibou Sy was able to use his length and kicking game to continually frutrate Dilano Taylor and earn a clear unanimous decision to win the 2022 PFL welterweight championship.
Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Stevie Ray
Olivier Aubin-Mercier landed the most devastating punch of his entire career to floor Stevie Ray and capture the 2022 PFL lightweight title.
Aspen Ladd def. Julia Budd
Aspen Ladd had a successful debut in the PFL when she earned a hard-fought split decision over former Bellator champion Julia Budd.
Ante Delija def. Matheus Scheffel
Ante Delija came up short against Bruno Cappelozza in a bout for the 2021 PFL heavyweight title, but the Croatian needed less than a round to win the 2022 championship when he stopped Matheus Scheffel.
Brendan Loughnane def. Bubba Jenkins
Brendan Loughnane put on a tremendous performance against Bubba Jenkins that culminated with him stopping the American in the fourth round to claim PFL’s 2022 featherweight title.
Larissa Pacheco def. Kayla Harrison
Pay-Per-View Main Card
COMPLETE RESULTS
ESPN PPV Card
Larissa Pacheco def. Kayla Harrison via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
Brendan Loughnane def. Bubba Jenkins via 4th round TKO (2:38)
Ante Delija def. Matheus Scheffel via 1st round TKO (2:50)
Aspen Ladd def. Julia Budd via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Stevie Ray by 2nd round KO (4:40)
Sadibou Sy def. Dilano Taylor via unanimous decision (49-46. 49-46, 49-46)
Robert Wilkinson def. Omari Akhmedov via 2nd round TKO (5:00 – Dr. stoppage)
ESPN+ Card
Sheymon Moraes def. Marlon Moraes via 3rd round TKO (0:58 – punches)
Natan Schulte def. Jeremy Stephens via 2nd round submission (1:32 – arm triangle choke)
Magomed Magomedkerimov def. Gleison Tibau by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Dakota Ditcheva def. Katherine Corogenes via 1st round KO (4:20)
Biaggio Ali-Walsh def. Tom Graesser via 1st round KO (0:45)
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