After her incredible 2022 season that saw her capture the Women’s Lightweight World Title and end the undefeated run of Kayla Harrison, Larissa Pacheco has made her case of being the one to run the new PFL Women’s Featherweight Division. With a World championship win in this postseason, Pacheco will become the PFL fighter to win world titles in two different weight classes. Pacheco earned the top seed this season with a unanimous decision over Julia Budd and stopping Amber Leibrock in 45 seconds, earning the fastest finish in women’s PFL history.
Olena Kolesnyk is a familiar foe to Pacheco. Kolesnyk was knocked out by Pacheco during the 2021 season and was the woman Pacheco defeated in last year’s women’s lightweight semifinals to earn the trilogy fight with Harrison. Kolesnyk made her PFL debut last season, and prior to her semifinal loss, scored decision wins over Abigail Montes and Vanessa Melo. Kolesnyk now returns to the postseason after decision wins over Aspen Ladd and Yoko Higashi helped earn her the No. 4 seed, giving her the chance to get revenge and score a major upset over Pacheco.
Who will advance to take on Marina Mokhnatkina in the 2023 PFL Women’s Featherweight World Championship with $1 million on the line?
Round 1
The two feel each other out as Pacheco throws a leg kick. A series of right hands and Kolesnyk crumbles to the ground! THAT’S IT! Larissa Pacheco needs just 14 seconds to reach the 2023 PFL World Championship!
THE #1 WOMEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT IN MMA!
— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 19, 2023
Larissa Pacheco is going back to the #PFLWorldChampionship!#PFLPlayoffs LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN
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It’s a new record for fastest finish in women’s PFL history! And now Larissa Pacheco is on the doorstep of becoming the first PFL fighter to win world titles in two different weight divisions!
OFFICIAL RESULT
Larissa Pacheco def. Olena Kolesnyk via first-round TKO (punches, 0:14)