Preview: 2023 PFL Championships

Women’s Featherweight Championship

Larissa Pacheco (22-4, 11-2 PFL) vs. Marina Mokhnatkina (11-3, 6-1 PFL)

Pacheco is just one victory away from becoming a two-division PFL champion. Unlike last year, the final obstacle is not nearly as daunting as two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison. On the heels of her massive upset of Harrison in 2022, Pacheco has excelled in the role of favorite while showing no adverse effects of cutting to 145 pounds. Mokhnatkina, a six-time combat sambo world champion, has won five straight bouts since going the distance with Harrison in May 2022. For the most part, the Bellator veteran has bested underwhelming competition—at least in comparison to Pacheco—but success over the course of a grueling PFL season format is nonetheless worth celebrating. Mokhnatkina is able to blend her striking and grappling well enough, but the primary objective remains to close the distance and get the fight to the canvas.

Even if Mokhnatkina is able to find her comfort zone against Pacheco, she will likely find it to be rough sledding against the Brazilian, who is more than capable of holding her own in the clinch, landing takedowns and securing submissions. This was most evident during her upset of Harrison in the 2022 PFL final. Additionally, Pacheco is a powerful fighter, which will make it difficult for Mokhnatkina to hold her on the canvas for any significant period of time. The Russian’s best chance lies in her willingness to take chances in scrambles, where she might be able to trap her foe with a surprise submission. The most likely outcome, however, is a familiar one for anyone who has seen Pacheco fight in the PFL. The Joao Bastos Fight Team standout will force a standup fight, walk Mokhnatkina down and find openings to land her straight right or left hook. Pacheco via first-round stoppage is one of the safest bets in the PFL when she is not facing elite competition. Expect another quick finish for the Brazilian as she claims her second divisional crown.

Continue Reading »
Aubin-Mercier vs. Collard
Goltsov vs. Ferreira
Pacheco vs. Mokhnatkina
Sy vs. Magomedkerimov
Silveira vs. Kasanganay
Harrison vs. Ladd
Cooper vs. Brunson
The Prelims