Larissa Pacheco predicted a fast finish at 2023 PFL Playoffs 2, but she perhaps surpassed her own expectations.
In the co-feature bout of the event at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, 2022 PFL women’s featherweight champion Pacheco (22-4) made quick work of Olena Kolesnyk (9-6). Pacheco predicted a one-minute finish in the semifinal bout, but she would only need 14 seconds to punch her ticket to the finals.
Pacheco quickly closed the distance and opened with a leg kick. She then pressed forward with right hand punches, with each offering landing harder. The third time was the charm, as Pacheco sent Kolesnyk to the mat, and the referee quickly stepped in as Kolesnyk covered up.
Check out video of the finish below (via Twitter):
THE #1 WOMEN'S FEATHERWEIGHT IN MMA!
Larissa Pacheco is going back to the #PFLWorldChampionship!#PFLPlayoffs LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN
🌎 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/BezUcFlUZ2— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 19, 2023
The result marks the third victory for Pacheco against Kolesnyk. In their first meeting in the 2021 regular season, Pacheco stopped her in the closing seconds of the first round with crushing punches. In their second meeting in the 2022 playoffs, Pacheco recorded another first-round stoppage, this time at 2:09.
Pacheco now advances to the finals, where she will face Marina Mokhnatkina, who recorded a first-round submission victory over Amber Leibrock earlier at the event.
Up-to-the-minute results of 2023 PFL Playoffs 2 include:
- Larissa Pacheco def. Olena Kolesnyk via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:14
- Denis Goltsov def. Jordan Heiderman via submission (arm triangle) – Round 1, 4:16
- Marina Mokhnatkina def. Amber Leibrock via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 1:45
- Nathan Kelly def. Damion Nelson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Danilo Marques def. Satoshi Ishii via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Maira Mazar def. Katylin Neil via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for 2023 PFL Playoffs 2.
