PFL Championship: Larissa Pacheco hands Kayla Harrison first loss and claims title in upset fashion (Video)
Larissa Pacheco extends her win streak and avenges her two previous losses to Kayla Harrison, pulling off a decision win to hand Harrison her first-ever loss and claim the women’s lightweight title at the PFL Championships PPV.
In what will go down as the biggest upset in PFL history, let alone one of the biggest upsets in recent MMA history, Larissa Pacheco scored a close unanimous decision over Kayla Harrison to capture the 2022 PFL women’s lightweight championship in the main event of the PFL Championships pay-per-view.
Pacheco becomes the first fighter to hand Harrison a loss in professional MMA after losing to Harrison on two previous occasions — the second of which came in the 2019 PFL women’s lightweight title fight.
Larissa Pacheco scores major upset, unanimous decision over Kayla Harrison in competitive main event for 2022 PFL women’s lightweight title at PFL Championships
LARISSA PACHECO UPSETS KAYLA HARRISON 😮 #PFLWORLDCHAMPIONSHIP pic.twitter.com/oYzZ9dOkdZ
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 26, 2022
The two felt one another out in the center of the cage before Harrison executed a clinch and scored a takedown just over a minute into the fight. Pacheco managed to prevent Harrison from transitioning on the ground during the round, but Harrison was still in firm control on top, throwing some ground-and-pound when possible.
Pacheco landed a strong leg kick in the second round, only for Harrison to respond with one of her own in the first minute of round two. Harrison went for a takedown, but Pacheco reversed it and threatened a guillotine. Harrison got out of it but found herself on the bottom — only for her to find her way out of it. In the round’s last minute, Pacheco threw her power shots and backed Harrison up, only for Harrison to go for a takedown and land a crucifix, unsuccessfully attempting an armbar.
Harrison got Pacheco back to the ground in the third round, but Pacheco landed some hard punches from the bottom — though Harrison seemed to fight through them. About halfway through the round, however, Pacheco threw up her legs and attempted a triangle. Harrison fought threw again and got back to top control in half-guard. Harrison managed to transition into full mount and threw some hard ground-and-pound, but she was unable to get the finish before the bell.
After some trading to start the fourth, Harrison went back to business in trying to get the fight back to the ground. But Pacheco showed defense in Harrison’s attempts and went for Harrison’s back, looking for a rear-naked choke. Harrison rolled through and got on top once again. Pacheco caught Harrison’s leg with about 90 seconds left in the round and got into side control.
Pacheco attempted to press Harrison up against the cage in the fifth, but Harrison quickly got the fight to the ground — only for Pacheco to counter and bring the fight back to the feet. Another Harrison takedown attempt was met with hammerfists from Pacheco. Pacheco got to Harrison’s back again. Harrison managed to reverse as the two had a grappling battle heading into the bout’s last minute.
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