Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco's bout could represent the passing of the torch between the two, says Dan Hardy, before PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants live on DAZN Pay-Per-View.
The two will face off as the co-main event alongside Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira's heavyweight fight as part of a superb Riyadh Season fight card at the Kingdom Arena.
It marks a first MMA bout for veteran star Cyborg since she defeated Cat Zingano last October, and pits her against the younger Pacheco as she chases a third PFL crown.
| Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira | Heavyweight world title |
| Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco | Women's featherweight world title |
| Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards | Bellator middleweight world title |
| Husein Kadimagomaev vs. Zafar Mohsen | Featherweight |
| AJ McKee vs. Paul Hughes | Lightweight |
| Raufeon Stots vs. Marcos Breno | Bantamweight |
| Makkasharip Zaynukov vs. Dedrek Sanders | Lightweight |
| Ibragim Ibragimov vs. Nacho Campos | Featherweight |
| Mostafa Rashed Nada vs. Ahmed Sami | Middleweight |
| Tariq Ismail vs. Taha Bendaoud | Featherweight |
But Hardy, a former challenger for the UFC Welterweight Championship, believes there is the chance for the event to effectively signal the changing of the guard in the sport.
"I very much feel like it could be [a passing of the torch moment]," he told DAZN. "Cyborg has been a mainstay of the sport of mixed martial arts for so long.
"But her game has always been striking, aggressive striking. If I look at Pacheca, she's an aggressive striker, she's got good footwork, she's got power in both hands.
"But she's also got a really good ground game, and I think that's where she is set apart from Cyborg. I think she's got the ability to take the fight anywhere and win.
"Cyborg needs to keep the fight standing. This determines the best on the planet and there's a lot to be gained for Larissa because Cyborg already has those credentials."
Cyborg has posted a 27-2 (1) record across her professional career, with 21 of her victories by knockout, highlighting her impressive power and skill.
Watch Ngannou vs. Ferreira on DAZN
Watch Francis Ngannou's return to the cage as he faces Renan Ferreira in the PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants this Saturday on DAZN Pay-Per-View.
The card also features Cris Cyborg against Larissa Pacheco for the women's featherweight world title.
The PPV is priced at £19.99 for UK viewers to watch on any device, including Smart TV's, game consoles, phones, tablets and PC's.
To purchase and find the prices in your region click here.
Purchasing the PPV includes a seven-day free trial of all of DAZN's programming across a range of sports.
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