See how the MMA community reacted to Larissa Pacheco defeating the previously unbeaten Kayla Harrison in the women’s lightweight title fight at the 2022 PFL Championships
The year 2022 in MMA continues to be full of surprises as it enters its final month, and that was shown further during the 2022 PFL Championships, the PFL’s first-ever pay-per-view event.
The headline bout saw quite possibly the biggest upset in the promotion’s history thus far, as Larissa Pacheco scored a close unanimous decision win over Kayla Harrison to capture the 2022 PFL women’s lightweight title.
Harrison now suffers the first loss in her professional MMA career and Pacheco avenges two previous losses — the second of which came when the two of them met for the inaugural division championship in 2019.
Twitter reacts to Larissa Pacheco upsetting Kayla Harrison at PFL Championships
If you would have told me I'd see Adesanya and Kayla Harrison in the mud within a span of 3 weeks.. pic.twitter.com/rVc4XzNOJq
— 🌙 Chelsea ✨ (@ChelsDiesel) November 26, 2022
me eating Thanksgiving leftovers while seeing Kayla Harrison’s start losing rounds: #PFLWorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/v1IYpDoGqJ
— MMA Island (@MMAisland) November 26, 2022
Larissa Pacheco having a win over 155 pound Kayla Harrison and having a loss over current 115 pound Jessica Andrade is a wild stat
— Super Fan🇮🇪 (@McGregorRousey) November 26, 2022
When I bet my life savings on Kayla Harrison to win and I get $3 back pic.twitter.com/aQKZ4hBJCv
— Heavyweight Thanos (@MMAThanos) November 23, 2022
Kayla Harrison is gonna come back. She’s incredible. #PFL pic.twitter.com/yOibSXePXl
— MMA Roasted (@MMARoasted) November 26, 2022
Smile if Kayla Harrison can't beat you
— TRiLL🇨🇦 (@mmaTRiLL) November 26, 2022
Cyborg: pic.twitter.com/x2FjzhbOCw
Cyborg and Nunes easily beat Kayla Harrison.
— MMAHaven (@TheMMAHaven) November 26, 2022
“Before the fight even started, I said Larissa Pacheco was probably gonna win as an 8-1 underdog vs Kayla Harrison. When Larissa won the 4th, I said well she might as well win the 5th now.”#PFLWorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/9WrlFnuy3f
— Fury’s Fight Picks (@LucaFury) November 26, 2022
Kayla Harrison would of gotten wrecked by Cris Cyborg or Amanda Nunes, I honestly think Julianna Pena would brutally finish her. #PFLWorldChampionship
— MMA Joey (@MMAJOEYC) November 26, 2022
After Harrison was in firm control in the first round with her dominant ground position, Pacheco seemed to rock Harrison during the second round, at one point having her in a tight guillotine attempt. Harrison would fight through and score an armbar attempt but not before being forced back by Pacheco’s power striking.
Harrison’s attempts to get Pacheco back down in the third were met with heavy striking by Pacheco from the bottom. Pacheco threatened a triangle choke but Harrison got past it and tried for a late finish in the third with her ground-and-pound — to no avail.
The last two rounds saw Pacheco fight through Harrison’s attempts to score a takedown with her defense or fists. Even when the fight was on the ground, Pacheco seemed to have a good read on Harrison and displayed more effective grappling and control.
Ultimately, all three of the judges scored the fight 48-47 for Pacheco.