Kayla Harrison entered the UFC cage for the second time this previous Saturday to defeat Ketlen Vieira in Salt Lake Metropolis and transfer one step nearer to the bantamweight title, and Larissa Pacheco disapproved the PFL social media recreation that day.
Harrison began her MMA profession beneath the PFL banner in 2018 and received 15 of her 16 bouts. The lone defeat got here in opposition to Pacheco, whom she beat twice earlier than, and PFL used Harrison’s massive UFC 307 conflict to advertise Pacheco’s upcoming battle with MMA legend Cris Cyborg on Oct. 19. PFL additionally posted a clip promoting Harrison later that day.
“I assumed that was uncalled for, actually,” Pacheco stated in an interview with MMA Combating. “I feel [PFL] have the champion they deserve, they’ve a respectful champion, who has defeated Kayla, so why do this? Promote me proper. Let’s promote the champion. ‘Oh, however Larissa beat Kayla.’ You don’t want that. I’ve proven [my work] with different outcomes, I’ve confirmed myself, so that you don’t want that.
“However anyway, that’s not on me. I’ve nothing to do with that. I respect Kayla. Our rivalry is over proper now as a result of she’s in one other group. Had she stayed right here it could be the 2 of us and Cris clashing heads right here, however there’s no cause to speak [about her now]. I want her good luck. The extra she wins, the larger my win over her will get, so I’ll all the time cheer for her.”
UFC CEO Dana White additionally bashed PFL for the tweet, joking that “once you’re dropping as a lot cash as they’re, f*cking go for it.”
Cyborg is a legend of the game with titles received within the UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce and Invicta FC. Pacheco seems to make historical past by including the Brazilian to her listing of victims after profitable belts in two weight lessons within the PFL.
Pacheco is driving a 10-fight profitable streak and has solely misplaced to Harrison, Germaine de Randamie and Jessica Andrade in 27 skilled fights, however feels “it’s clear to all people” that PFL has promoted Harrison in another way.
“I don’t know if it’s as a result of I’m Brazilian, if it’s as a result of I don’t converse English and don’t promote that a lot, however I really feel the distinction,” Pacheco stated. “She’s not even right here anymore and so they nonetheless [post] rather a lot about her, ? She’s gone, she’s already in one other group. I feel they’ll take a look at folks which can be within the group.”
Pacheco hopes the general public notion — and precise PFL advertising machine — adjustments with a win over Cyborg in Saudi Arabia.
“I feel it takes me to a different stage, makes me one of many greats in girls’s MMA,” Pacheco stated. “To beat two nice athletes — one two-time Olympic champion with all of the hype now within the UFC, and a legend [in Cyborg]… What else do I must say? It’s going to take me to a different stage and provides me the credibility promotions nonetheless don’t give me. I miss that, I received’t deny. Even from the PFL, to deal with me and provides credit score as their precise champion.”
“Folks give an excessive amount of weight to the truth that I’ve misplaced to Kayla, however I’ve l misplaced in 2019, after I was damaged, and other people don’t take that in consideration. And I received once we had been each in our primes, the height of our performances. I’m not saying one win deserves extra credit score than two, however there’s an enormous distinction. And beating Cris now would give me the hype and credibility that I want at this stage of my profession.”
