Cris Cyborg decisions Larissa Pacheco in PFL: Battle of the Giants co-main event

The PFL women’s featherweight super fight belt was on the line in the PFL: Battle of the Giants co-main event on Saturday at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Bellator champion Cris Cyborg faced PFL titleholder Larissa Pacheco in a cross-promotion clash.  Cyborg entered the fight having not lost since 2018 and riding a seven-fight winning streak.  Pacheco brought a ten-fight winning streak with her to the cage and hadn’t tasted defeat since 2019.

Cyborg landed first with a stiff jab.  Pacheco pressured the Brazilian and Cyborg landed to the body.  The two briefly clinched before separating.  Pacheco continued to press forward and Cyborg changed levels and secured a takedown.  

Pacheco worked her way back to her feet only to be greeted with a head kick.  She absorbed it and Cyborg clinched.  Cyborg disengaged and landed a right hand.  With two minutes remaining in the round, Cyborg was in complete control.  Pacheco moved into the pocket with a right hand and cyborg changed levels and took her down.  Pacheco applied a guillotine choke.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Cyborg.  

Pacheco came out pressuring in the second frame.  Cyborg missed with a winging right hand.  Pacheco connected with a combination.  Cyborg began delivering leg kicks.  One briefly knocked Pacheco down.  After momentarily clinching, Pacheco went back to pressuring Cyborg.  Each time Pacheco got too aggressive, Cyborg would take her down.  She kept heavy pressure on top and peppered Pacheco with short left hands.  Cyborg stood and delivered kicks to the legs of the downed Pacheco.  Pacheco got to her feet in the closing seconds and landed a clean right hand.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Cyborg.  

Cyborg had cuts above both eyes heading in to the third frame.  Cyborg opened the round with a leg kick.  Pacheco responded with one of her own.  Pacheco began taunting Cyborg, urging her to come forward.  Cyborg did not take the bait.  They exchanged right hands on the inside and Pacheco continued to pressure Cyborg.  She connected with a combination.  Pacheco caught a leg kick and countered with a straight right hand that knocked the Bellator champion down.  Pacheco followed Cyborg to the canvas with two minutes to work.  

Pacheco worked inside Cyborg’s closed guard and delivered hooks to the body.  Pacheco maintained top position while mixing in punches and elbows.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Pacheco. 

They touched gloves to begin the fourth round.  Cyborg started the round with leg kicks.  Pacheco answered with two hard leg kicks.  Cyborg exploded forward with a flurry but Pacheco backed away.  Pacheco inched closer into boxing range.  Cyborg met her with a right hand.  Pacheco again caught a kick and connected with a straight right counter.  The pace slowed and Cyborg landed a right hand and backed Pacheco up.  Back to the center of the cage, Cyborg let a head kick go but Pacheco blocked it.  Cyborg connected with a left hand and backed away.  Cyborg looked to get the fight to the ground and landed a right hand.  Pacheco responded with a right hand.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Cyborg.

Cyborg came out in there final frame landing her jab.  They both loaded up with right hands and both missed. The output dwindled in the middle portion of the round.  Cyborg pawed with her jab but Pacheco landed a right hand.  Cyborg pressed forward with a flurry backing Pacheco to the cage..  Pacheco dropped down for a takedown and Cyborg landed a series of right hands on the ground before Pacheco scrambled to her feet.  Cyborg loaded up but missed with a right hand.  She changed levels and power forward to take Pacheco down.  She stood over her and delivered kicks to her legs before letting her to her feet.  MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for Cyborg.  

The judges scored the fight for Cyborg via unanimous decision.  The scorecards read 49–46, 49–46, and 49–46.