Priscila Cachoeira refutes criticism, defends coach: 'We're the ones who know my limits'

Priscila Cachoeira had a difficult night in the cage with Valentina Shevchenko but says she’d still fight the ex-title-challenger “another 10 times” without even thinking twice.
Cachoeira (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) was a massive underdog heading into the UFC Fight Night 125 contest with “Bullet.” The meeting, which ended up serving as co-headliner at Mangueirinho Gymnasium in Belem, Para, Brazil, was Cachoeira’s promotional debut, as well as Shevchenko’s (15-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) first flyweight bout – following a narrow split decision loss to 135-pound champ Amanda Nunes.
Shevchenko was able to submit Cachoeira in the second round of a one-sided beatdown that sparked criticism from several angles. While ref Mario Yamasaki took most of the heat for allowing it to go on as long as it did, the promotion was questioned
about the mismatch and her cornerman and coach, Gilliard Parana, for both telling Cachoeira to shut up when she complained of knee pain and not throwing in the towel to halt the fight, even with all the punishment she was receiving.
“Pedrita” Cachoeira, who’s now looking at knee surgery for ACL and meniscus tears the team believes she suffered early in the first round, took to Instagram on Sunday thank everyone who showed their support and to address some of the criticism.
“I will fight any fighter in the world, regardless of her standings,” Cachoeira wrote in her native Portuguese. “I’d fight Valentina another 10 times without even thinking twice. Those who pick easy battles aren’t true warriors. And the treatment and the intimacy I have with my master… Those on the outside don’t know anything to criticize it. This isn’t master and student. It’s father and daughter. And no one can say how he’s supposed to treat me. As for throwing the towel: This is (team) PRVT, and we’re the ones who know my limits. Throwing the towel, never.”