Larissa Pacheco is among those who are concerned about Kayla Harrison’s ability to safely cut to the women’s bantamweight division.
Pacheco (23-4) has fought Harrison three times in her career, going 1-2 in their matchups under the PFL banner. All three of those fights were contested at lightweight, which is 20 pounds heavier than the weight Harrison (16-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will attempt to compete at when she makes her anticipated UFC debut on April 13 vs. Holly Holm at UFC 300.
Harrison has fought as low as women’s featherweight in her career, but 135 pounds will mark new territory. Pacheco has felt Harrison’s size and strength in the cage before during, and she said she was surprised the two-time Olympic gold medalist made this commitment for a new division..
“I think it’s going to be difficult for her,” Pacheco told MMA Junkie through an interpreter. “For example, myself, I don’t even have as much muscle mass as she does, and I know how much I suffered to cut down to 145 (pounds), and she’s going to come out to a lower division. I worry that she’s going to lose performance, she’s going to lose potency. It’s going to be tough for her. It’s going to be difficult.”
UFC CEO Dana White claims that Harrison has already made multiple test cuts to bantamweight and will have no issues on the scale ahead of UFC 300. MMA journalist Ariel Helwani disputed those comments and reported Harrison has not done any test cuts.
The mystery around this attempt will serve as a compelling storyline throughout UFC 300 fight week, where Harrison will try to make her mark on a new promotion.
If Harrison had stayed with PFL, a fourth matchup with Pacheco would’ve likely been one of her future notable fight options. It won’t happen now, though, and although Pacheco would’ve liked to even the score in head-to-head matchups, she is satisfied knowing she won the most recent fight between them and that she remains the only blemish on Harrison’s resume.
“Whatever happens, that ‘1’ on her record has my name on it,” Pacheco said. “I fought her in 2019, I lost. Then now I beat her in 2022. I’m the only one to ever beat her. But I now have to focus on the opponents in my division. I’m really going to let this go. I’m kind of neutral on it. I’m just going to move forward. But for sure she’s always going to have my name on her record. So it’s fine. All is good.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.
