LAS VEGAS – Julia Budd was pleased to get a matchup with Larissa Pacheco to open the 2023 PFL women’s featherweight season.
Budd (16-5) faces Pacheco (19-4) in Friday’s 2023 PFL 2 main event, which takes place at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN2 following prelims on ESPN+.
The former Bellator featherweight champion finds extra added motivation facing Pacheco first. The Brazilian won the 2022 PFL season at women’s lightweight, and Budd wants to use Pacheco’s success to elevate her career to start the new season.
“I always want to test myself against the best of the best,” Budd told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during Wednesday’s 2023 PFL 2 media day. “I’m excited. Whoever it is, but I’m totally focused on Friday night and making sure I come out on top, so that’s my focus for now.
“What I’m excited about is that it’s 145, I’m fighting her right off the bat. She was the champ from last year. It’s kind of one of those fights that wake you up in the morning, light that fire and get you going. So focusing on that right away and having that, it helped set my year off. Just like a huge kickstart. I’m excited for it now.”
Budd and Pacheco are on different career trajectories. Pacheco is on a six-fight winning streak and coming off a huge upset win over Kayla Harrison. Meanwhile, Budd is on a two-fight losing skid for the first time in her career.
“It’s funny because it’s like two paths,” Budd said. “She went through a bunch of wins last year, I went through two losses. So, I was forced to go back and completely develop, take a look at every aspect of who I am, and how I want to be in this sport, and that is a dangerous person to fight I believe.
“Is the person that had to go back and reevaluate, and sharpen all their skills. Her coming off being the champion, having a couple of those quick wins in the beginning, and then beating Kayla in the finals, I think she might be underestimating me a little bit.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL 2023, Week 2.