Legendary Bellator featherweight champion Cris Cyborg delivered an outstanding performance at the PFL: Battle of the Giants. The fighter faced Larissa Pacheco in the co-main event and defeated the fighter in a five-round battle.
Cyborg began the round with an early takedown and went in for a choke, but Pacheco quickly recovered and was soon back on her feet. Cyborg unleashed a round of head kicks and scored another takedown, which Pacheco tried to reverse into a guillotine choke, but Cyborg recovered quickly. The two were soon back on their feet, with Cyborg dishing out punishing blows and Pacheco eating the punches and moving forward. Cyborg scored another takedown and tried to keep Pacheco down, but she couldn’t.
Pacheco changed tactic in the third round and went for the kill instead, scoring a well-timed takedown followed by wicked elbow shots that opened a cut on Cyborg’s eyebrows. Pacheco remained on the offensive but soon began to slow down, leaving an opening for Cyborg, who fired heavy shots and a right hand that rocked Pacheco. The two continued to exchange savage blows during the round, but in the end, Cyborg emerged as the winner via a unanimous decision.
Cyborg earned the win, as Pacheco is considered one of the deadliest fighters in featherweight. She considers Pacheco one of her toughest challenges and is relieved to have crossed this hurdle.
“She’s a legend,” Cyborg said about Pacheck following the fight. “She’s a big name in the sport. She punched really hard. It’s a pleasure for me. I’m really thankful to be here. I’m really happy. I feel very blessed, very thankful. I have two more fights, I’m going to defend this title.”
Main Card
Heavyweight Superfight Championship: Francis Ngannou def. Renan Ferreira via KO
Women’s Featherweight Superfight Championship: Cris Cyborg def. Larissa Pacheco via unanimous decision
Bellator Middleweight Championship: Johnny Eblen def. Fabian Edwards via unanimous decision
Featherweight: Zafar Mohsen def. Husein Kadimagomaev, via unanimous decision
Lightweight: Paul Hughes def. AJ McKee via split decision
Preliminary Card
Bantamweight: Raufeon Stots def. Marcos Breno via submission (rear-naked choke): R3
Lightweight: Makkasharip Zaynukov def. Dedrek Sanders via unanimous decision
Featherweight: Ibragim Ibragimov def. Nacho Campos via unanimous decision
Featherweight: Taha Bendaoud def. Tariq Ismail via submission (triangle choke) R2
