\n<\/p>\n
In the co-main event, Brazil’s Cris Cyborg beat compatriot Larissa Pacheco by unanimous decision in a gruelling back-and-forth contest.<\/p>\n
In a fight where momentum changed multiple times, Cyborg, 39, was the more aggressive as she cemented her legacy as one of the best female MMA fighters in history.<\/p>\n
The bout was billed as a champion versus champion contest, with Cyborg the reigning Bellator featherweight title holder and Pacheco winning the 2023 PFL featherweight global league.<\/p>\n
Cyborg referred pre-fight to the contest as her “legacy tour” and was tested by Pacheco like few others have been able to.<\/p>\n
During a glittering 19-year-career which has included championship victories across multiple promotions, she has now won 28 fights, lost two, and has not been defeated since 2018.<\/p>\n
The first round was action-packed, as Cyborg landed two takedowns either side of a vicious head kick.<\/p>\n
Pacheco, as she would show throughout the bout, displayed remarkable durability as she fought back, opening a cut above both of Cyborg’s eyebrows.<\/p>\n
Cyborg was not fazed, delivering an eye-catching spinning backfist before landing another takedown, but momentum would swing back in Pacheco’s favour in the third.<\/p>\n
Pacheco taunted a stationary Cyborg, demanding engagement in the centre of the cage, before securing a takedown of her own and controlling the action on the ground.<\/p>\n
In a gruelling contest, Cyborg started to save her attack for blitzes as she rushed forward multiple times, landing a flurry of strikes, but Pacheco once more would recover as the fight entered the final round.<\/p>\n
Cyborg launched a couple of big overhand rights in the closing stages but as the bell rang, both fighters raised their arms in the air, believing they had done enough to secure victory.<\/p>\n
As the judges’ scores were read out, Cyborg was declared the victor, before she was awarded a commemorative belt – the fifth title of her magnificent career.<\/p>\n
“Larissa is a legend in sports. She punches really hard. She’s a really good fighter. It’s a pleasure for me,” said Cyborg.<\/p>\n
“I feel very blessed. Very thankful. The time difference is really difficult for me. I have two more fights, I want to defend this title.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n