Preview: PFL 2 ‘Pacheco vs. Budd’

Women’s Featherweights

Aspen Ladd (10-3, 1-0 PFL) vs. Olena Kolesnyk (7-5, 2-3 PFL)

ODDS: Ladd (-425), Kolesnyk (+325)

After a knee injury and repeated issues on the scales derailed her career as a UFC bantamweight, Ladd hopes to start fresh in the PFL at 145 pounds. It was a fairly encouraging beginning at the 2022 PFL World Championships, where she made weight and then edged former Bellator champion Julia Budd in a competitive split decision victory. While Ladd showcased good scrambling ability in taking Budd’s back in Round 1, she struggled to take the powerful Canadian down for the rest of the fight and was fortunate her opponent lacked the impact with her clinch work to turn the fight in her favor. Ladd’s trademarks at 135 pounds were physicality and aggression, but it may prove to be more difficult to consistently impose her will against larger opposition at featherweight.

Kolesnyk figures to be a dance partner who will match Ladd’s aggression. The Global Fight Gym export is a willing brawler even when it is to her detriment—which surfaced in knockout losses to Larissa Pacheco at 155 pounds over the previous two seasons. “Cannon” has shown the ability to be more tactical when the situation calls for it, but Ladd is a pressure-based fighter who does not mind eating a few strikes to dictate the terms of the action. Kolesnyk has typically succumbed to more talented opponents—see Pacheco, Felicia Spencer, Pam Sorenson—and for all of her recent struggles, Ladd seems to fit that bill. Expect a few spirited exchanges early before Ladd is able to close the distance to force clinches and scrambles to wear her adversary down. Ladd by decision or submission is the pick.

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Pacheco vs. Budd
Cappelozza vs. Scheffel
Goltsov vs. De Castro
Kuniev vs. Ferreira
Ladd vs. Kolesnyk
The Prelims