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Larissa Pacheco's Road Less Traveled

Larissa Pacheco’s story is one of triumph through persistence – she is best known, of course, for toppling the seemingly unbeatable Kayla Harrison in 2022 after having come up short in her first two attempts – but her history of overcoming adversity goes back much further.

As she prepares to face Cristiane “Cris Cyborg” Justino in the co-main event of PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants "Prepare for Impact" on Saturday in Riyadh, the two-time Professional Fighters League champ has spoken openly about the challenges she has faced along the way, from her impoverished upbringing to the injury that derailed her Ultimate Fighting Championship run when she was barely out of her teens.