The 2019 Professional Fighters League season concludes on New Year’s Eve with the biggest night in MMA – the 2019 PFL World Championship. 6 title fights on one action-packed card at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater in New York City. The winner of each title fight will earn $1 million and the 2019 PFL championship belt for their division.
Here's a look at each Championship matchup and what every finalist is saying heading into the event.
Women’s Lightweight Championship
#2 Kayla Harrison vs. #4 Larissa Pacheco
Can 2-time Olympic champion Kayla Harrison win her first MMA title?
In the fight for the first-ever women’s lightweight world title, two-time Olympic judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison looks to take the next step in her mission to become the greatest MMA fighter on the planet. To earn her first belt and remain undefeated she’ll have to beat the only woman to have taken her a full three rounds inside the cage - Larissa Pacheco. Brazil’s Pacheco, who has 8 career wins by submission, fights to give her humble family a better life.
Harrison on the rematch
“I'm gonna be smart. I'm gonna be diligent. I'm gonna keep control. I'm gonna win every single round in a dominant way until I break her. And she's gonna tap eventually, whether it's a TKO or KO or submission. She is gonna quit. I'm gonna make her quit.”
Pacheco on the rematch
“Based on all the hype and everything that’s being done for her, all I can say is that it’s gonna be extremely gratifying to beat her, launch this weight class and take this belt home. Winning one million dollars at MSG will make me beyond happy… Media is building her up and they forgot that there are fighters out there that have been in this road for longer and with less resources, and that those fighters can also make it out there and win.”
Welterweight Championship
#5 David Michaud vs. #6 Ray Cooper III
Ray Cooper III gets 2nd chance at his first PFL title in a matchup of knockout artists
Fans should get ready to see some hands fly in this welterweight clash for $1 million. Last season Cooper knocked out his first 4 opponents before being upset in the final. The Oahu native continued to train with his father and brothers in their home garage-turned-gym, and now the Cooper clan gets a second straight shot at a belt. The heavy-hitting Hawaiian punched his way to NYE with an epic knockout of Chris Curtis in the semifinals. Cooper faces David “The Bulldawg” Michaud, who is of Native American descent and grew up on a reservation in South Dakota. Michaud earned two bloody hard-fought wins in the playoffs and says “no way this title fight goes 5 rounds”.
Michaud on this fight
“I feel like it's a great matchup for the fans. We're pretty similar. We both go forward, throw some big hooks, get takedowns when we need to, and try to put people away on the ground also… it's gonna be a barnburner… As evidenced by his fight with John Howard, he leaves himself open. He's a very offensive fighter. He kinda throws his defense out the window a little bit… Hopefully, his defense still isn't there, and I can catch him.”
Cooper on this fight
“I’m gonna come out the same way [as last year on NYE] but more calculated. And this time I’m gonna take this guy out and there’s nothing gonna stand in my way from winning the title. My prep has been just focused on being the quicker fighter, stronger fighter and I know David’s a good wrestler but I’m a way better wrestler than him and if he wants to punch, we’re gonna punch and I’m not going down. So I’m ready for him wherever he goes.”
Featherweight Championship
#1 Lance Palmer vs. #4 Alex Gilpin
“The Party” looks to continue featherweight dominance and earn second straight PFL crown
Palmer fights for a second straight featherweight title in a trilogy fight with submission specialist Alex Gilpin. Palmer has won 10 straight fights overall and is 9-0 in the PFL, with a second straight perfect season now in reach. The former 4-time All-American wrestler at Ohio State has displayed a new level of striking this season after moving camps to work with Mark Henry and Ricardo Almeida. Gilpin became the first man to stop Andre Harrison when he submitted him in the quarterfinals this season. Gilpin enters this fight after Daniel Pineda was ruled ineligible.
Palmer on any adjustments he’ll make fighting Gilpin for a third time this year
“The main adjustments I would make is just to be cleaner with every execution that I have. I got a little sloppy with some things… I felt that I was pretty clean with my striking, but adding more shot attempts or setting up my shots with strikes or bring some new tricks out that I didn't really use in the last fight. Just be a little bit more dynamic in there. And that's where we're gonna get the finish if we do get the finish is bringing a little more pressure and being a little more dynamic instead of just trying to make it look pretty and just win the fight. I want to go out and get a finish.”
Gilpin getting a third chance to defeat Palmer
“Unique set of circumstances to stay the least but I’m looking to take full advantage of it. At least the beauty of it is I know what doesn’t work against him. But regardless of what has happened every fight is different. I’m looking forward to showcasing how much he’s made me evolve. I’m also someone that prides myself on cardio and constantly looking for the finish. This time I’ve got 5 rounds to do so. Can’t wait.”
Lightweight Championship
#1 Natan Schulte vs. #7 Loik Radzhabov
Natan Schulte can silence doubters for good with back-to-back lightweight titles
Last season, Schulte grinded his way to the crown with tight decision wins to become the PFL’s youngest champ at just 26 years old. It was a life-changing accomplishment for Schulte, who couldn’t afford a car before the season started. This season the Brazilian has continued his rise in MMA and he’s left nothing to the judges, putting both of his playoff opponents to sleep in emphatic fashion. Schulte takes on a massive underdog in Loik Radzhabov, who shocked the bottom half of the playoff bracket as the #7 seed with a smothering no-quit style. Radzhabov is the first fighter in the PFL to represent Tajikistan, where pro MMA is banned. Radzhabov hopes winning a major title could change that.
Schulte on his legacy and this matchup between two aggressive fighters
“This is gonna be a clash of two big mack trucks coming head on at each other. The two of us refuse to move backwards, so I anticipate this fight being a clash of two big forces… Aside from writing my story with the PFL, I’m also writing my name in the history of MMA. The world will keep on hearing my name and seeing my work. A champion that came from Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil.”
Radzhabov on winning this fight for Tajikistan
“It's gonna be a big win and it's very important for my country for Tajikistan. In my country, professional MMA right now is banned. Only amateur MMA is legal. If I win, maybe they would make MMA legal.,, We have a lot of people who love this sport and they support the fighters. And, it's giving me a lot of motivation to get that belt and bring it back to Tajikistan.”
Light Heavyweight Championship
#1 Emiliano Sordi vs. #7 Jordan Johnson
Former Training Partners Fight for Light Heavyweight Belt in Clash of Styles: Striker vs. Wrestler
A clash of styles to determine the new light heavyweight champion: world-class striker Emiliano Sordi against former University of Iowa wrestler Jordan Johnson. Last season’s champion at 205, Sean O’Connell, retired to become the PFL’s lead play-by-play announcer. Who will be the new light heavyweight king? Argentina’s “He Man” Sordi has won all 4 fights this season by stoppage (3 knockouts, 1 submission). His last 3 wins all came in the 1st round. The USA’s “Big Swingin” Johnson entered the PFL at 10-0 off a 4-0 run with the UFC, but suffered his first career loss in his PFL debut against Maxim Grishin. Since then Johnson has gone unbeaten to earn a spot in the Final.
Sordi on fighting for the title not the money
“Money is not the most important thing, I will take home the million dollars, and it’s already mine. But what I mostly want is to win the title, to be honest, I’ve been fighting for the last ten to twelve years. I used to fight for one hundred dollars, or even less, I really do it because I like to fight, but not only for the money.”
Johnson on this matchup stylistically and his relationship with Sordi
“We all know what's gonna happen. He's a striker. I'm a wrestler. I'm a really good wrestler… I've known Emiliano for a long time. He's a good guy. And I know he's gonna show up to bring it. And I'm gonna bring it… I've trained with Emiliano quite a bit, but that's not gonna even register in my mind... I'm just gonna work as hard and as smart as I possibly can and just do the things that I know I need to do. And that's it. It doesn't matter who it is. You know, these people are interchangeable. They don't matter. It's all about what you do. And what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna do everything I'm capable of to be a bad motherf***er that night.”
Heavyweight Championship
#5 Ali Isaev vs. #7 Jared Rosholt
Two elite wrestlers face off for the heavyweight title
Veteran Jared Rosholt remains the winningest heavyweight in Oklahoma State University's storied wrestling history. Ali Isaev was a 2008 Olympian in freestyle wrestling representing Azerbaijan (he now fights for his home nation of Russia). Isaev upset the #1 seed Denis Goltsov with 1 second left in the semifinals by TKO. Rosholt scored 2 upsets in the playoffs to make the final, including a 1st round knockout of Muhammed DeReese in the quarterfinals. The 33-year-old Rosholt went 6-2 in 8 fights with the UFC earlier in his career and now has a full-time job as an elevator apprentice in addition to fighting.
Isaev on his Dagestan roots and how it shapes fighters from that region
“In Dagestan, our culture, our history is located in these parts of the world where there have been many hard times. So our people are very tough and with big hearts, with big spirits… And, nowadays, there are a lot of young kids that are hard workers and they see successful athletes from Dagestan that achieve success overseas in the US. And they understand and they realize that everybody can do it. So that motivates our kids.”
Rosholt on this matchup between wrestling titans
“I think it’s going to be an exciting fight because it’s going to limit our wrestling… When you got two wrestlers, those even out. And now it’s like who can throw the hands a little bit… When you compete for the Olympics for your country, you’re a phenomenal athlete, period. USA versus Russia in New York City on New Year’s Eve. I mean, could it be any better? This is Rocky Four all over again.”
Bonus Fight on ESPN+!
Brendan Loughnane vs. David Alex Valente
Major 2020 Featherweight Signing Brendan Loughnane Fights on ESPN+
Loughnane signed to fight in the 2020 PFL featherweight division following a win on Dana White’s Contender Series, and the Brit is hungry to get his shot at whoever takes the featherweight crown this season. The 30-year-old striker from Manchester, England, used the PFL signing bonus to pay off his mother’s home of 30 years. Loughnane enters this new fighter showcase against David Alex Valente having won 8 of his last 9, including a PFL win in October.
Loughnane on the featherweight division and next season
“It’s all Lance Palmer right now. He’d probably be top-five in the UFC; he’s 9-0 in the PFL, (and) probably going to win his second million. He’s no pushover. I’m really looking forward to joining him and seeing what I can do, especially with two fights in one night… and I’m coming strong for that fight (Palmer) next year.”
Full Championship Fight Schedule (fight order)
ESPN+ - 6p ET
New Fighter Showcase – Featherweight
Brendan Loughnane vs. David Alex Valente
ESPN2 – 7p ET
Light Heavyweight Championship
#1 Emiliano Sordi vs. #7 Jordan Johnson
Featherweight Championship
#1 Lance Palmer vs. #4 Alex Gilpin
Lightweight Championship
#1 Natan Schulte vs. #7 Loik Radzhabov
Heavyweight Championship
#5 Ali Isaev vs. #7 Jared Rosholt
Welterweight Championship
#5 David Michaud vs. #6 Ray Cooper III
Women’s Lightweight Championship
#2 Kayla Harrison vs. #4 Larissa Pacheco
