Professional Fighters League weigh-ins for 2019 PFL Playoffs Opener Complete

Live Coverage of PFL Playoffs Begin Friday Night, October 11, on ESPN+ at 8:00pm ET and ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes at 10:00pm ET

Tomorrow night, the Professional Fighters League (PFL), the first organization ever to present MMA through a Regular Season, Playoffs and Championship format, is bringing its electrifying fight twice in one-night playoff format to the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Welterweights and women’s lightweights weighed in this afternoon and are set to compete for the chance to advance to the 2019 PFL World Championship on NYE in NYC at MSG’s Hulu Theater, where a title and million-dollar prize is on the line.

“It’s win or go home! The PFL format brings out the best in these elite fighters, and with so much on the line fight fans can expect incredible action here in Las Vegas,” said Ray Sefo, President of Fighter Operations of the PFL. “The PFL Playoffs are the toughest nights in MMA, ensuring the best of the best are competing for the million-dollar prize at Madison Square Garden on NYE.”

On ESPN2, two-time Olympic Judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison returns to the cage looking to keep her perfect 5-0 record intact and advance to the championship. She will be facing Bobbi Jo Dalziel in a change to the fight card. Gena Fabian was unable to attend weigh-ins due to a medical issue, opening the door for Dalziel, who was an alternate after finishing 5th in the regular season. Dalziel is 5-1 in her MMA career with 3 knockouts. Atop the division is former Strikeforce and Invicta FC Bantamweight champion Sarah Kaufman. The #1 seed faces Larissa Pacheco, who earned a spot in the playoffs with a first-round submission win against Dalziel at PFL 4.

2018 PFL welterweight champion and current #2 seed, Magomed Magomedkerimov, opens his 2019 playoff campaign with a rematch against Chris Curtis. At PFL 4, Magomedkerimov earned a unanimous decision victory, battling through a broken hand to remain undefeated in his PFL career. Magomedkerimov has won 10 straight, including a second-round submission of Ray Cooper III in the 2018 championship fight. Cooper takes on Sadibou Sy in the #3 vs. #6 quarterfinal, with the possibility of a championship rematch in the balance.

Boston-native John Howard is coming off an explosive regular season win where he became the first fighter to ever knock out Cooper. At 36 years old, Howard has the most career wins in the division with 28 and looks to continue against his opponent David Michaud. Michaud enters the playoffs on the heels of a first round TKO win over Handesson Ferreira. Brazilian Glaico Franca clinched the #1 seed in his first season with the PFL with a TKO win over Sy at PFL 4, and will face #8 seed Andre Fialho.

United Kingdom featherweight and rising MMA star, Brendan Loughnane, opens the night on ESPN+ in his PFL debut against Matt Wagy, fighting out of Delray Beach, Florida.

Official Weights:

1. Brendan Loughnane (145.8) vs Matt Wagy (145.2)
2. Jesse Ronson (170.2) vs. Nikolay Aleksakhin (170.4)
3. Ray Cooper (170.2) vs. Sadibou Sy (170.2)
4. Glaico Franca (170.2) vs. Andre Fialho (169.0)
5. Magomed Magomedkerimov (170.2) vs. Chris Curtis (170.6)
6. John Howard (170.8) vs. David Michaud (170.6)
7. Sarah Kaufman (153.4) vs. Larissa Pacheco (155.8)
8. Kayla Harrison (156.0) vs. Bobbi Jo Dalziel (155.8)

All times ET

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