Former Bellator MMA titleholder Julia Budd believes that a victory over Larissa Pacheco will open important doors for her future.

Even though Budd (16-5, 1-2 PFL) is on a two-bout skid, she is confident she can leave a mark on the recently inaugurated Professional Fighters League women’s featherweight division. Last year, “The Jewel” was supposed to face two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison in July but was forced to pull out of the clash due to injury. Ultimately, she ended the year with back-to-back defeats at the hands of Genah Fabian (who badly missed weight ahead of their tilt) and Aspen Ladd. Now, the Canadian fighter is scheduled to take on 2022 PFL women’s lightweight champion Larissa Pacheco in a 145-pound affair that will headline the upcoming 2023 PFL 3 event. Still, Budd hopes to face Harrison one day.

“Hopefully, that's a fight that happens in the future. It was a real bummer because I was training really [well], training camp was going really well, but, yeah, things happen. It didn't happen last year, but I think it will still happen. I always wanna test myself against top competition. There's no easy fights for me. I started out my career fighting the best of the best, it’s something I pride myself in. As soon as they called for Larissa too, right away, I'm like, ‘Yeah, we expected it.’ We were literally like talking about it the week before over and we're like, ‘I bet you that's my first fight,’ and already kinda game planning for it. That's something that's been really motivating for me as well is fighting her right off the bat and planning on making a statement.”

(00:00 ) Intro

(01:03 ) Her motivation ahead of the 2023 PFL Season

(02:28 ) Accepting the fight with Fabian

(03:51 ) Losing to Ladd

(05:17 ) Preparing for Pacheco

(06:30 ) Commenting on Pacheco’s victory over Harrison

(07:28 ) Expecting to face Harrison in the future

(08:40 ) Hoping the Harrison fight takes place at featherweight

(09:14 Outro