Larissa Pacheco sparks drama with a bold taunt at Kayla Harrison before UFC 324

Larissa Pacheco is having a little fun with Kayla Harrison over Instagram on the eve of UFC 324. Pacheco reminded everyone on social media about the only loss in Harrison's impressive 20-fight MMA career (19-1). She posted a graduated carousel of six images and added the ironic caption: "The intern thought we should all remember this day." Harrison is getting set to face off in a mammoth co-main event on Jan. 24 in Las Vegas, so this was anything but last-minute thinking on Pacheco's part.

Larissa Pacheco’s Instagram jab at Kayla Harrison adds fuel before UFC 324

This was clearly not an accidental posting by Larissa Pacheco. It is a perfectly timed social media jab against Kayla Harrison as she gets ready to step into the octagon for one of the biggest fights of her UFC run. It is also a direct message from Pacheco, as the only woman to defeat Harrison inside the cage, that she has something very few fighters can boast of - a mental edge.

Larissa Pacheco sends Kayla Harrison a reminder that, while Harrison is the reigning UFC bantamweight champion, she can still be beaten. Pacheco's post does not need to explain who she is referring to, and these comments hit home much harder, almost like an inside joke aimed squarely at Harrison’s legacy and accomplishments.

As Kayla Harrison prepares to face her current training partner, Amanda Nunes, for the co-main event at UFC 324, Larissa Pacheco's jab does one additional thing: it gives the MMA world reason to ponder what would happen if Harrison is victorious. All of a sudden, the bantamweight division needs fresh blood.

Larissa Pacheco’s free agency could set up a blockbuster UFC return

Larissa Pacheco's jab at Kayla Harrison has added fuel to the speculation about the future of Pacheco. Last October, Pacheco was let go by the PFL and, therefore, was eligible to sign wherever she wished, and this immediately created excitement about the potential for a return to the UFC and the possibility of a fight against Kayla Harrison on the horizon.

After UFC Rio, Larissa Pacheco's manager, Alex Davis, made public statements questioning whether or not Pacheco can continue to make the 135-pound limit. This hampered some of the hype temporarily, but following that, Pacheco made a guest appearance on the “Mundo da Luta” podcast and made it clear she can indeed make weight and wants to return to the UFC.

Larissa Pacheco competed for the UFC earlier in her career (2014-2015) and was released following a two-fight losing streak. However, since that time, Pacheco has developed into a much more complete fighter and has cemented her status as a credible championship contender. If Kayla Harrison wins the fight against Amanda Nunes at UFC 324, Larissa Pacheco would likely be the most obvious and most explosive storyline the UFC will be pursuing next.

Also Read: Dana White drops big UFC 324 announcement as major title fights land in Las Vegas


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