Pacheco hands Harrison first loss in PFL stunner

Kayla Harrison, the two-time defending PFL women's lightweight champion and the promotion's astir ascendant fighter, is undefeated nary more. Larissa Pacheco, who doubly earlier had faced Harrison and had mislaid some times, got a stunning triumph successful her 3rd ace astatine Harrison connected Friday nighttime successful New York.

The combat was 1 of six value part PFL play title finals contested wrong Hulu Theater astatine Madison Square Garden.

Harrison (15-1), a two-time Olympic golden medalist successful judo, came successful arsenic an 8-1 betting favorite. She and the PFL were already making plans for adjacent year, removing her from regular-season contention successful bid to publication her successful "superfights," presumably with a measurement up successful competition. Pacheco mightiness person spoiled those plans.

The combat started good for Harrison, who scored an aboriginal takedown and threatened a submission for overmuch of the archetypal round. But Pacheco (19-4) withstood those hard 5 minutes and fought backmost successful the 2nd round, utilizing her almighty standup skills to onshore dense strikes and utilizing beardown takedown defence to crook the tide.

The combat appeared to beryllium tied going into the 5th round, and Pacheco was the fresher combatant astatine that point. She landed immoderate hard punches connected Harrison, who yet landed a takedown but could not capitalize.

All 3 judges scored the bout 48-47 successful favour of Pacheco. Before this bout, Harrison had not mislaid adjacent a azygous circular successful her career. Harrison is No. 8 successful the ESPN pound-for-pound women's apical 10, the lone PFL combatant successful either those rankings oregon the divisional ones.

When Pacheco was awarded the title loop and an oversized replica of a $1 cardinal check, she credited her hostile for playing a relation successful getting her to wherever she present stands successful her career.

"Just similar Kayla said before: I've ever made her a amended competitor," Pacheco said done an interpreter. "Well, she's ever made maine a amended competitor. She drove maine to this moment."