Preview: PFL 5 ‘Delija vs. Greene’

Featherweights

Larissa Pacheco (20-4, 9-2 PFL) vs. Amber Leibrock (7-4, 1-0 PFL)

ODDS: Pacheco (-1200), Leibrock (+750)

Early returns were promising on Pacheco’s move to 145 pounds, as she outdueled former Bellator champion Julia Budd ahead of a unanimous decision triumph. While the fight was closer than many expected, Pacheco did not look any worse for wear making the cut to featherweight after competing at 155 pounds for the past three seasons. It is also important to keep in mind that Budd is not that far removed from being considered one of the top pound-for-pound female fighters in the world, and she has a style that can make it difficult to look good against her. Also encouraging is the fact that Pacheco has shown in back-to-back outings that she can persevere when the quick finish does not arrive.

Leibrock has been on a roll since a 1-3 stint in Bellator MMA, finishing her last four opponents inside of a round. The competition was not especially noteworthy until she knocked out 2022 postseason participant Martina Jindrova with a lead-leg head kick in the opening stanza of their PFL 2 encounter. Leibrock is a kill-or-be-killed type fighter—all but one of her 11 career bouts have ended inside the distance—with some decent experience on her record, but she will probably need to produce another highlight-reel finish if she is to pull off the upset here.

Pacheco typically likes to walk forward and pressure her opponents while slinging heavy leather. Her right hand and left hook have fight-ending power, and prior to besting Kayla Harrison in the 2022 lightweight championship, Pacheco authored five consecutive KO/TKO victories in PFL competition. The Brazilian is quite capable of holding her own in the clinch and on the mat—she proved as much against both Harrison and Budd—and she also possesses an active submission game on the ground. Leibrock’s 6-foot frame will present some challenges, most notably her arsenal of kicks, but Pacheco’s forward pressure will likely negate those attacks. Pacheco is not entirely unhittable, as Budd landed some solid shots in their bout, but she has proven to be durable over the course of her career. Look for Pacheco to return to her old ways and finish Leibrock inside the distance.

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