Larissa Pacheco is ready to come full circle. The two-time PFL champion and the only woman to ever hand Kayla Harrison a professional MMA loss has her eyes set on a UFC comeback.
After dominating the PFL scene with a 10-1 record in her last 11 fights, Pacheco was surprisingly released from her contract. She revealed that she had already begun training for a rematch with Julia Budd when PFL abruptly informed her that the promotion was ending her division and letting her go.
“They reached out to me about a month ago saying they were going to send me a date, possibly against Julia Budd,” Pacheco told MMA Fighting. “Then they said they were no longer interested in keeping the division going, and that they were releasing me. The reason they gave was that there were no other fighters left. It was just me, Sara Collins, and Cyborg.”
According to Pacheco, Cris Cyborg’s reluctance to face her again played a role in PFL’s decision. Despite the frustration, Pacheco refuses to dwell on legal battles or regrets.
“They said Cyborg told them that if her last fight was against me, she’d retire early. She had no interest in fighting me again,” Pacheco explained. “So they released me, even though I still had two fights left on my contract.”
“I’m not going to waste my energy thinking about lawsuits,” she said. “I’m focused on what’s next, and what’s next for me is getting back to the UFC.”
Now training alongside Amanda Nunes in Florida, Pacheco feels more prepared than ever to make her UFC return, 12 years after her first run in the promotion. She made her debut at just 19, facing top-tier names like Jessica Andrade and Germaine de Randamie before finding her footing in the sport.
“I didn’t even have 10 percent of the resources I have now,” Pacheco said. “I was just a kid, and they threw me against two champions. Look what I’ve built since then.”
Her journey through PFL showcased the fighter she’s become. She went 12-3 under the promotion, claiming two PFL championships and defeating some of the toughest women in the division, including Kayla Harrison. Her only setbacks came against Cyborg and Harrison, but even those fights showed her growth and resilience.
“I know I’ll probably need to take a few fights outside and clean up my record,” she admitted. “But I’ll do whatever it takes to show that I belong in the UFC. To prove I can make the division exciting and deliver great fights. I’m not embarrassed to take a few steps back if it helps me move forward.”
The Brazilian powerhouse also addressed her rivalry with Cris Cyborg, expressing surprise at the veteran’s unwillingness to rematch her.
“It’s her choice, but I truly believe I could have a totally different outcome this time,” Pacheco said. “It would be an amazing fight, not just for us, but for the fans too. A rematch with me would have much more value.”
As for the future, Pacheco has made her goal clear: a return to the UFC and another shot at the gold. She believes her experience, maturity, and recent training under Nunes position her perfectly for a fresh run in the bantamweight division.
“Dana, I’m here, ready and willing,” Pacheco said in her message to UFC CEO Dana White. “I’m here to prove I can deliver great results and show a different Larissa. I was just a kid when I joined the UFC. I’m mature now, structured, and ready to put on a show. If I have to prove myself all over again, I’m fine with that. That’s my life goal right now. I’ve achieved a lot already, now it’s time to come back home and fight for that UFC belt.”
