Cris Cyborg will enter the PFL cage for the primary time Saturday using a 11-fight profitable streak — MMA and boxing mixed —, stopping six of her opponents with strikes, however none had the knockout energy of her upcoming foe Larissa Pacheco.
Pacheco is a two-division PFL champion with 11 of her 23 MMA wins coming by means of knockout — together with two sub-minute finishes throughout the 2023 season —, whereas Cyborg went 2-0 this yr in boxing towards overmatched opponents. Cyborg is a jiu-jitsu black belt beneath the legend Rubens Charles “Cobrinha,” and has positioned third within the ADCC earlier than, however Pacheco doesn’t count on the Bellator champion to keep away from a stand-up warfare in Saudi Arabia.
“To let you know the reality, I don’t even know what her plans are,” Pacheco mentioned in an interview with MMA Combating. “My camp and coaching have been targeted on a broad plan, like I at all times do. I by no means give attention to what my opponent is nice at, on what she may do. I at all times give attention to what I can get higher at in case she tries to give you one thing new — I imply my opponents typically, whoever I’m about to face. They may attempt to shock me, so I higher be ready in all areas. What holes do I’ve to repair?
“I don’t know what she’s going to attempt to do, however one I can can assure you is that I’m prepared for all the things. I believe it might shock me [if she goes for takedowns] due to her historical past. She’s recognized for her hanging and this model of transferring ahead and buying and selling strikes and whatnot, so I imagine she’s going to belief that. Taking me down can be altering her model utterly. It might be making an attempt to point out one thing that… I don’t know, however yeah, it might shock me.”
Pacheco mentioned she has met Cyborg on the UFC Efficiency Institute lately, whereas accompanying a pal who was about to struggle within the octagon in Las Vegas, and mentioned the veteran fighter was upset at her for one thing she had mentioned throughout an interview after the struggle was lastly booked by the PFL.
“I believe I mentioned one thing in an interview and she or he was offended by it, however then I defined her what I mentioned and what I had in thoughts,” Pacheco mentioned. “Not that I used to be frightened of her or something like that, however out of respect. My phrase is my phrase, you recognize? If I had one thing to say I’d go forward and say it, however I received’t create trash discuss out of nowhere simply to promote a struggle.”
“I’m at all times respectful in the direction of my opponents and by no means take something exterior the cage,” she continued. “I do know this hate is one thing that followers like, however I separate issues. That is work, and that’s my private life. I’m not the kind of individual to speak trash simply to advertise a struggle. I do know it doesn’t assist my profession as a result of followers love this, however I can’t be somebody I’m not.”
With no obvious animosity between the 2 knockout artists, Pacheco guarantees fireworks when the bell rings in Riyadh.
“I assure you that individuals received’t remorse watching this struggle,” Pacheco mentioned. “Simply match my model with hers and see what we do after we’re within the cage and there’s nothing else left to be mentioned.”
