Larissa Pacheco has made it clear where she wants to be after leaving the Professional Fighters League.
The two-time PFL champion told MMA Fighting that she was already in camp for a rematch with Julia Budd later this year when the company informed her they had changed plans and decided to release her. According to Pacheco, his most recent opponent, Cris Cyborg, is partly to blame for that.
“They contacted me about a month ago and said they were probably going to set me up on a date with Julia Budd,” Pacheco said. “So we waited, and we waited, and they said they didn’t want to do another fight anymore, they weren’t interested in keeping the division, and they said they were going to release me. The reason they gave me was that there were no other fighters left. The one who’s fighting Cyborg now is me ( Just Sarah Collins and Cyborg, 6-0. I was supposed to fight Julia again, and Cyborg was supposed to fight that girl. She’s going to defend the title, and I’m going to have a chance at a rematch after that. ”
“[The PFL]said Cyborg told him that if his last fight was against me, he would retire early and that he had no intention of fighting me again,” she continued. “So I said, ‘Okay,’ and that’s what happened. They released me even though I still had two games left on my contract.”
Pacheco said he would not “waste energy” thinking about a possible lawsuit against the PFL for liability for the two games, but “we are considering what is best to do and what path to take.”
Pacheco admitted he was surprised by Cyborg’s alleged decision to retire from competition rather than compete a second time. They went all out for the PFL Superfight belt in October 2024, and Cyborg walked away with the title. The loss ended Pacheco’s win streak at 10, which included victories over Budd and future UFC champion Kayla Harrison.
“I think that’s her choice,” Pacheco said of Cyborg’s decision. “But there are some Instagram accounts and pages on the internet that keep saying I’m crying, complaining. I’m not crying. I know I’m capable of beating her, you know? That’s what I wanted. It was an opportunity to prove that. I took her to the fifth round, which I think was my right, and based on how that fight went. It was a great fight and she won, but I truly believe it could be a completely different outcome this time.
“She’s nearing the end of her career, so it would be a great match, not just for me and her, but for the fans as well. Which would make more sense, a rematch with me or a fight with a 6-0 prospect? Watching the fight and saying, ‘Well, Cyborg is going to win,’ or actually appreciating MMA for what it is and elevating women’s MMA? I believe a rematch with me would be more valuable. You have nothing to lose.” That girl. ”
Pacheco admitted that he expects the PFL to eventually eliminate the division after Harrison leaves for the UFC, especially after the 155-pound division is eliminated. Pacheco lost an additional 10 pounds to win another championship season in 2024, but has now been informed that he has no future at featherweight in the PFL.
Pacheco, who is currently a free agent and trains with Amanda Nunes in Florida, feels there is “no other place that makes sense for me” other than the UFC. “The Lioness” is expected to come out of retirement in 2026 to challenge for Harrison’s bantamweight gold medal, which will mark Pacheco’s return to the UFC more than a decade after joining the promotion.
“I first joined the UFC when I was 19 years old,” Pacheco said. “I didn’t have 10 percent of the resources that I have now in terms of weight cut, fight quality and everything else. I was just a kid and was put up against two champions, Jessica (Andrade) and Jermaine (De Randamie). I was at the height of my innocence in this sport and just starting out. It’s been 12 years since my last UFC fight. Look at what I’ve built since then.”
“I know I’ll probably have to play a few races outside and try to beat my record,” she continued. “But I’m going to do whatever it takes to show them that I belong in the UFC, to show them that I can get results and make the division exciting and have great fights. I’m not going to be shy or afraid to take a few steps back if it helps me move forward and get another shot at the UFC and show what I’m really capable of.”
Pacheco said he could get a chance in the UFC despite losing to Cyborg in his most recent fight, as he has a history with Harrison, is 1-2 in the PFL, and is currently training Nunes for the historic matchup.
“We know they can do it if they want to,” Pacheco said. “I know it’s not unrealistic. After all, I’ve won against Kayla, Karol Rosa, Irene Aldana. They’re all top-10 fighters, including the current champion. But I have to prove that I deserve to be there. If I don’t, that’s fine. I don’t even think about what advantage those wins will give me, I’m focused on what I need to do to get there. I’ll do everything I can to get back there because I truly believe that’s where I belong.
“We’ve fought three times and last time I won. I don’t think she wants to see me again. But now that I’m training with my next opponent, Amanda, I truly believe that the UFC is where I need to be. It’s a place where there are women my size in my division. People say I can’t make weight, but that’s not true.”
Pacheco, currently one of the hottest MMA free agents in the MMA world, has made his intentions known by sending a message to UFC CEO Dana White.
“Dana, I’m here. I’m ready and I’m happy,” Pacheco said. “I’m here to prove that I have what it takes to be there, get great results, and show a different Larissa. When I joined the UFC, I was just a kid. Now I’m mature, fit, and able to make weight and put on a show. I’m running things. If I can prove to Dana and Mick (Maynard) that I’m here, I’m ready to compete in the outside events as well. Partnering with Amanda just shows my strength as an athlete and how much of myself I am here. I’m ready to join. But if I have to prove myself, I’m ready for that too. That is my life goal and I have already achieved a lot. Now it’s time to go home and win a UFC belt, hopefully soon. ”