Kayla Harrison defeats Larissa Pacheco by unanimous decision, earning 3 points in the women’s lightweight division. Harrison continues her undefeated start to her MMA career, moving to 4-0-0. This was Harrison’s first win by decision (previous 3 wins came by stoppage).
Magomed Magomedkerimov defeats John Howard by 1st round submission (guillotine choke), earning 6 points in the welterweight division. 9th straight win for Magomedkerimov8th career submission winNow moves to a perfect 6-0 in his PFL career (5-0 last season en route to the welterweight title)
Magomed Quote: “I am here to dominate and double my million. I won’t be satisfied otherwise.”
Ray Cooper III defeats Zane Kamaka by 2nd round submission (rear-naked choke), earning 5 points in the welterweight division. Cooper moves his career record to 18-6-0. All 18 of his career wins have come by stoppage (12 knockouts, 6 submissions).
Cooper III Quote: “This fight didn’t have to happen, but it’s over and I’m moving on. I wanted to end this fight early, would’ve preferred to get the job done in one, but I’ll take the 5 points and get ready for the next fight.”
Sarah Kaufman defeats Morgan Frier by 1st round submission (arm triangle), earning 6 points in the women’s lightweight division. Kaufman moves her record 21-4-0, 1 no contest by winning her 4th straight fight. That was just the 2nd submission win of Kaufman’s career.
Kaufman Quote: “This was my first fight at 155, it felt so good to fight at a natural weight class. This is exactly what I wanted coming in, earn 6 points and get momentum going toward the playoffs and championship. This is the beginning of an awesome journey.
Sadibou Sy defeats David Michaud by 1st round KO, earning 6 points in the welterweight division. 2nd fastest stoppage in PFL history (0:17)
Sadibou Quote: “I saw an opportunity for a left kick and I took it. My left kick is second to none. I hit him right where I had to. Got the job done and can now move forward. Now let’s enjoy New York and get back to training.”
Handesson Ferreira defeats Bojan Velickovic by unanimous decision, earning 3 points in the welterweight division.
Ferreira Quote: “I’m at the right place, at the right time. This is my year. Nobody’s going to take this away from me.”
Bobbi Jo Dalziel defeats Genah Fabian by Unanimous Decision, earning 3 points in the women’s lightweight division. Dalziel remains undefeated, moving her career record to 5-0-0.
Bobbi Jo Quote: “That was definitely the toughest fight of my life, but exactly what I expected. I had so much fun, and I’m happy to earn the 3 points towards a potential playoff spot.”
Glaico Franca defeats Gamzat Khiramagomedov by 1st round submission, earning 6 points in the welterweight division. 20th career win overall and 9th career win by submission for Franca.
Glaico Franca Quote: “He hits hard and can take a punch too. Too bad I’m used to taking a punch and can hit even harder! I’m here to win it all, this is just the beginning.”
Chris Curtis defeats Andre Fialho by 3rd round TKO, earning 4 points in the welterweight division. Curtis wins his 8th fight in a row and notches his 9th career knockout. His career record moves to 21-5.
Chris Curtis Quote: “Great result overall. Just wish I could’ve had my first round be my second so I could’ve been loose and heated up by then. We’re only getting better from here, this was my first PFL action and I’m not here to just participate, I’m here to win and earn a million dollars.”
Roberta Samad defeats Moriel Charneski by Unanimous Decision, earning 3 points towards making the 2019 PFL Playoffs in the Women’s Lightweight division. Samad earns a win in her return to the cage after a layoff of 3 ½ years. She moves to 5-1 in her career.
Roberta Samad Quote: “That’s a pretty good performance after being out for nearly 3 years. I took the fight to the ground as I was a little worried about my cardio. But it wasn’t an issue, I battled, earned the win, and am ready for the next one.”
PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE BEGINS 2019 REGULAR SEASON IN DYNAMIC FASHION WITH SIX FIGHTS ENDING BY STOPPAGE
Returning Welterweight Champion Magomed Magomedkerimov Dominates, Ray Cooper III Wins Family Feud and Sadibou Sy Earns Second Fasted Knockout in PFL History
Sarah Kaufman Moves Atop the Women’s Lightweight Division and Kayla Harrison Remains Undefeated in her MMA Career
UNIONDALE, N.Y. – May 9, 2019 – The Professional Fighters League (PFL) made its highly anticipated 2019 season debut in front of an electric crowd at NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, on Long Island, N.Y. The ten-fight event featured victories by Kayla Harrison and Sarah Kaufman in the first-ever Women’s Lightweight division, a statement win by returning Welterweight champion Magomed Magomedkerimov, the second fasted knockout in PFL history by Sadibou Sy (0:17), and Ray Cooper III forcing his cousin and Hawaiian rival into a second-round tap out.
“Tonight was a historic milestone for PFL and MMA. Our 2019 season debut on ESPN delivered an action-packed lineup of ten incredible fights to fans around the world,” said Peter Murray, CEO of the PFL. “Our unique sports-season format means every round matters, and that truly came to life this evening with six fights ending by stoppage in spectacular fashion. We also took fans inside the cage like never before with real-time delivery of dynamic, fighter performance data through our proprietary SmartCage technology.”
“With the PFL’s regular season, playoffs and championship format, every fight counts on the road to a title and million-dollar prize. Our Welterweight and Women’s Lightweight fighters opened the 2019 season with brilliant displays of athleticism, grit and power, electrifying viewers at home and in-stadium,” said Ray Sefo, President of Fighter Operations of the PFL. “While ten fighters are one step closer to securing a playoff spot, those that fell short tonight still have an opportunity to make up ground and secure points in the second half of the regular season.”
In Women’s Lightweight division action, Kayla Harrison earned a hard-fought victory against Larissa Pacheco to remain undefeated in her MMA career, moving to 4-0. With the unanimous decision victory, Harrison tallied 3 points toward a playoff spot. Sarah Kaufman’s in-cage experience was on full display against Morgan Frier, earning a first-round submission by arm triangle and 6 points to finish the night on top the division. Kaufman’s fourth-straight win moves her record to 21-4-0, 1 no contest.
In a Hawaiian family feud, Ray Cooper III defeated his cousin Zane Kamaka by second-round submission with a rear-naked choke that forced Kamaka to tap. Cooper III earned 5 points toward playoff positioning and improves to 18-6-0. All 18 of his career wins have come by stoppage (12 knockouts, 6 submissions). Defending Welterweight champion Magomed Magomedkerimov picked up where he left off last season, defeating John Howard by first- round submission (guillotine choke), earning 6 points. It is Magomed’s ninth straight victory, and he is a perfect 6-0 in his PFL career.
Sadibou Sy kicked off the action on ESPN2 with the second fastest knockout in PFL history. A swift and powerful left kick to the side of David Michaud quickly ended the fight, as Michaud was unable to recover. Sy earned 6 points and is in first place in the division heading into the second half of the regular season. Chris Curtis defeated Andre Fialho by 3rd round TKO, earning 4 points. Curtis landed numerous blows in the final round, knocking Fialho to the mat where he mercilessly pounded until the fight was called. This is Curtis’ eighth win in a row and ninth career knockout. His career record improves to 21-5.
PFL action returns to Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Thursday night, May 23rd, with Featherweights and Lightweights. Long Island natives Chris Wade and Andre Harrison will each fight in front of their hometown fans, returning Featherweight champion Lance Palmer will begin his 2019 campaign against Alex Gilpin and returning Lightweight champion Natan Schulte faces PFL newcomer Bao Yincang.
Every PFL event will air across ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+, – the leading multi-sport streaming service, in addition to TSN in Canada, and on a wide and diverse group of premier global distribution partner platforms reaching over 150 countries around the world.
Women’s Lightweight
| Rank | WOMEN’S LIGHTWEIGHTS | PFL 1 Pts | PFL 1 Result |
| 1 | Sarah Kaufman | 6 | Win – 1st round submission (2:22) |
| 2 | Kayla Harrison | 3 | Win – Unanimous Decision |
| 3 | Roberta Samad | 3 | Win – Unanimous Decision |
| 4 | Bobbi Jo Dalziel | 3 | Win – Unanimous Decision |
| 5 | Genah Fabian | 0 | Loss – Unanimous Decision |
| 6 | Moriel Charneski | 0 | Loss – Unanimous Decision |
| 7 | Larissa Pacheco | 0 | Loss – Unanimous Decision |
| 8 | Morgan Frier | 0 | Loss – 1st round submission (2:22) |
Welterweight Division
| Rank | WELTERWEIGHTS | PFL 1 Pts | PFL 1 Result |
| 1 | Sadibou Sy | 6 | Win – 1st round KO (0:17) |
| 2 | Glaico Franca | 6 | Win – 1st round submission (4:06) |
| 3 | Magomed Magomedkerimov | 6 | Win – 1st round submission (4:54) |
| 4 | Ray Cooper III | 5 | Win – 2nd round submission (4:29) |
| 5 | Chris Curtis | 4 | Win – 3rd round TKO (4:17) |
| 6 | Handesson Ferreira | 3 | Win – Unanimous Decision |
| 7 | Bojan Velickovic | 0 | Loss – Unanimous Decision |
| 8 | Andre Fialho | 0 | Loss – 3rd round TKO (4:17) |
| 9 | Zane Kamaka | 0 | Loss – 2nd round submission (4:29) |
| 10 | John Howard | 0 | Loss – 1st round submission (4:54) |
| 11 | Gamzat Khiramagomedov | 0 | Loss – 1st round submission (4:06) |
| 12 | David Michaud | 0 | Loss – 1st round KO (0:17) |
About Professional Fighters League
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) presents MMA for the first time in the sport-season format where individual fighters control their own destiny, competing in a regular season, playoffs, and championship. PFL’s differentiated format and exciting fights sparked breakout growth for the league. PFL events are Thursday nights primetime live on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
The PFL 2019 Season features elite MMA athletes across six weight classes, including the first-ever 155-pound women’s division, with each fighter having two fights during the PFL Regular Season in May, June, July, and August. The top eight fighters in each weight class advance to the single-elimination PFL Playoffs in October, where fighters must fight twice and win twice in the same night to advance to the finals. PFL Championship is New Year’s Eve with the winners of each title bout being crowned PFL World Champion of their respective weight class and earning $1 million. Viewers will be delivered next-gen stats never before seen in MMA through the PFL’s proprietary SmartCage™ platform and Cagenomics™ technology.
PFL is backed by an investor group of sports, media, entertainment, and business titans. Watch PFL live Thursday nights in the U.S. on ESPN2, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes. PFL is also available in 130 countries around the world with leading local broadcasters.
For more info visit www.PFLmma.com and follow PFL on Instagram (@PFLmma), Twitter (@ProFightLeague), and Facebook (/ProFightLeague).
