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In an action-packed fight at PFL 2, Larissa Pacheco showed why she's a force to be reckoned with in the women's lightweight division. Pacheco outpointed former Bellator champion Julia Budd in a closely contested bout that had fans on the edge of their seats.
In the second and third rounds of the fight, Budd improved her performance by landing a right hand on Pacheco early in the second round and exchanging punches with her toward the end of the fight. Although she hoped to score points with takedowns, Pacheco managed to reverse positions several times, particularly in the final moments of the fight, where she impressed the judges with a series of ground and pound strikes.
Despite being smaller in size, Pacheco had better grappling skills and came close to securing submissions, including an armbar in the first and third rounds after escaping Budd's back control. This win marked Pacheco's first victory since causing a major upset by defeating two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison, making her a woman to watch in 2023.
Budd's record in PFL is now 1-3, and she joined the organization after losing her title to featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, which marked the end of her reign at the top of that division.
Larissa Pacheco may have an easier time this season as she won the PFL women's lightweight 2022 championship last November, overcoming Kayla Harrison's undefeated record in a stunning upset and earning a $1 million bonus. However, despite moving down a weight division and without Harrison's participation, Pacheco's recent performance on Friday night might suggest that it is not as effortless as it sounds.
Pacheco secured three points in the season standings with her decision, but Amber Leibrock has taken the top spot in the women's 145-pound division after earning six points with a first-round knockout of Martina Jindrova. In another noteworthy outcome, Olena Kolesnyk won a majority decision over former UFC fighter Aspen Ladd.