Mixed martial arts veteran Sarah Kaufman is just two wins away from the biggest payday of her distinguished 13-year career. However, before she can even compete in the Professional Fighters League’s $1 million fight on New Year’s Eve, she will have to get past Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Larissa Pacheco, a fighter Kaufman considers the best competitor in the PFL women’s lightweight division -- after her.



Pacheco’s 12-3 record is unassuming. However, her three professional defeats showcase the caliber of fighter it takes to beat her. As her losses have come to two eventual UFC world champions in Jessica Andrade and Germaine de Randamie, as well as the face of the PFL’s new lightweight division, Kayla Harrison. Kaufman believes the 25-year-old she faces at at PFL 7, on October 11 in Las Vegas is as legitimate a test as the division can offer.



“I’ve told a lot of people I actually think that Larissa is -- aside from me -- the next most dangerous person [in the division]. Sure, Kayla has the power, the size and the judo background that’s nasty. When Kayla and Larissa fought [at PFL 1 2019], Kayla definitely came out the dominant victor, but Larissa didn’t take a lot of damage in that fight. She played it patient, she stayed calm, she looked for opportunities, and I think that experience definitely played into that, and I think that she is actually the toughest fight of the eight women in the division, for me.”



In this exclusive conversation with Sherdog, Kaufman went in-depth on her upcoming opponent and why she feels confident wherever the fight takes place. The Canadian native also talked about getting more marketing support from the league, and why it is one of the best organizations she has ever worked for. Conversation also included her thoughts on the nasty breakup between the UFC and Cristiane Justino and if she feels she is getting into the mind of the two-time Olympic gold medalist Harrison.