MMA star Larissa Pacheco fought for FREE at start of her career… now she gets second crack at PFL’s $1m cash prize

LARISSA PACHECO fought for FREE at the start of her career... now she has a second chance to change her life by winning $1million.

The Brazilian is signed to the Professional Fighters League and this season reached the winner-take-all $1million finale fight.

And not only is Pacheco fighting for money but also for revenge – facing the woman who has twice already beaten her, Kayla Harrison.

It leaves it all on the line for the lightweight contender, 28, who is in her second final following defeat to Harrison, 32, in 2019.

She said: “It’s hard to pinpoint one thing, I think they all make it a great professional and personal achievement for me.

“It’s the belt, in a major promotion which helps me assert my spot in the history books of MMA.

“It’s a win over someone of Kayla Harrison’s statue and it’s $1million that helps me invest in my own career and my family and my livelihood.”

Pacheco started her MMA career in Brazil in 2012, fighting for small sums on the local circuit.

Now, she is one win away from becoming a millionaire and changing her life.

Pacheco said: “I started fighting for the love of the sport, I fought for free just to build a record and put myself in a position to develop.

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“I fought for virtually nothing, so to come from a place of fighting for nothing or virtually nothing, to fighting for $1million, it’s everything.

“A million dollars is the kind of money that would make a difference in anyone’s life, it’s a sizeable figure.

“So to look at that and be able to think, whose life will I be able to improve and how will it develop my career, it means everything to me.”

Pacheco is in her third PFL season, MMA’s only league format.

Stars in each weight have two qualifying bouts, where points are earned per method of victory.

The top four in each weight then progress to the knockout stages where the cash prize and title belt awaits.

Double Olympic judo champion Harrison is a two-time winner and has reached her third consecutive final.

She first beat Pacheco twice on the way to victory in 2019, including in the showpiece event.

But three years on and Pacheco has vowed to make it third time lucky by upsetting reigning and unbeaten champ Harrison.

She said: “Last year I had a hiccup, the mission was left unfinished, I came out here to wrap up business this year.

“I think the trilogy fight with Kayla makes it a lot more special, I have the chance to do so many things I want.

“It’s the championship, it’s the belt, it’s the money, the chance to get back someone who got one over on me twice already.

“I can speak assertively, that I know how her game works, she beat me twice and I find it hard to believe she’d change her gameplan for the third fight.

“I think it’s a card up my sleeve to know what to expect.”