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2019 PFL Playoff Preview – Welterweights and Women’s Lightweights
October 11, 2019 – Mandalay Bay Events Center
ESPN+ 8-10p ET ESPN2 10p-12:30a ET
The 2019 Professional Fighters League playoffs are set to begin this Friday in Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay with the first of three playoff events taking place in October, as the welterweight division and women’s lightweight division take to the cage. The event will showcase the toughest and most action-packed format in MMA: single-elimination bracket-style playoffs. It’s MMA Madness - winners advance, losers go home. Plus, the fighters in the welterweight division have to fight twice in the same night (in quarterfinals and semifinals). The women’s lightweights are already down to the final four competitors, so they will proceed directly to the semifinals.
At the end of the night, two fighters will remain in both divisions. Those finalists will advance to the 2019 PFL World Championship on New Year’s Eve where they’ll compete for $1 million and their division title.
Here's a look at how the October 11th playoff contenders got here, how they plan to win and what could go wrong against their opponent.
Women’s Lightweight Semifinals
#2 Kayla Harrison vs. #3 Genah Fabian
Kayla Harrison
1 - How She Got Here
Harrison won both of her regular season fights to move her undefeated career record to 5-0. She earned a unanimous decision win over veteran Larissa Pacheco and finished the regular season on a high note with a 1st round submission by keylock over Morgan Frier.
2 - How She Plans To Win
The two-time Olympic judo gold medalist is one of the best grapplers in the world. If she gets this fight to the ground, she’ll be looking for her 3rd career submission win and a berth in the women’s lightweight championship.
3 - What Could Go Wrong
If Fabian keeps her distance, Harrison could find herself in a striking match with a muay thai world champion. Harrison has worked to improve her striking at American Top Team, but would it be enough?
Genah Fabian
1 - How She Got Here
Fabian rebounded from a unanimous decision loss in her PFL debut to knock out Moriel Charneski in the 1st round of her second regular season fight. Her TKO punch registered as the fastest strike in the division on the season: 22 mph.
2 - How She Plans To Win
Fabian is 4 inches taller and has an 8-inch reach advantage over Harrison. Fabian must use that length and her muay thai skills to be the first fighter to test Harrison’s chin.
3 - What Could Go Wrong
Fabian has yet to face a grappler in the PFL. If she gets taken down early by Harrison, it could be a short night for the muay thai champ.
#1 Sarah Kaufman vs. #4 Larissa Pacheco
Sarah Kaufman
1 - How She Got Here
In her PFL debut, Kaufman submitted Morgan Frier in the 1st round by arm-triangle choke. That was the only time Kaufman entered the cage during the regular season. She earned a walkover win in her second fight after Roberta Samad missed weight.
2 - How She Plans To Win
With 21 career wins, Kaufman has far more MMA experience than every fighter in the division, even the 12-3 Pacheco. Kaufman’s biggest advantage in this fight is her boxing, but she’s well-rounded and could win a variety of ways.
3 - What Could Go Wrong
If Kaufman is over-confident in ground exchanges with Pacheco, she could end up being the Brazilian’s second straight submission victim.
Larissa Pacheco
1 - How She Got Here
The 25-year-old became the first fighter to take Kayla Harrison the distance when she dropped a unanimous decision to the 2-time Olympic champion on May 9th. Pacheco rebounded to submit the previously unbeaten Bobbi Jo Dalziel in her second fight by 1st round armbar.
2 - How She Plans To Win
Pacheco could look to get Kaufman to the ground and get her back, where she can utilize her top-notch jiu jitsu. Pacheco has 8 career wins by submission.
3 - What Could Go Wrong
Pacheco has fought tough opponents, but none with the experience that Kaufman possesses. She could be out strategized in this one.
Welterweight Quarterfinals
#3 Sadibou Sy vs. #6 Ray Cooper III
Sadibou Sy
1 - How He Got Here
Sy moved down from middleweight for this season and started his 2019 campaign in style with the 3rd-fastest stoppage in PFL history, a 17-second liver kick KO of David Michaud. Sy then lost to eventual top seed Glaico Franca by 3rd round TKO in a bout Sy was winning on the cards.
2 - How He Plans To Win
Sy, “The Swedish Denzel Washington”, is 8 inches taller, brings a 10-inch reach advantage, and has some of the fastest kicks in the PFL. The Swede could look to keep his distance and lure Cooper into a wild brawl, hoping find an opening to knock Cooper out like Howard did in Cooper’s last fight.
3 - What Could Go Wrong
If Sy gets taken down early, he’ll endure some gruesome ground and pound from Cooper, who is a much stronger wrestler.
Ray Cooper III
1 - How He Got Here
Cooper started the season with a dominant 2nd round submission of his own cousin Zane Kamaka in a heated family feud. The Hawaiian entered his second regular season bout against veteran John Howard with all the momentum, but Cooper was knocked out for the first time in his career.
2 - How He Plans To Win
Cooper was a Hawaiian state champion wrestler, and he flashed those skills in his first regular season bout when he submitted Kamaka. If Cooper can control his desire to swing for the fences, he’ll find chances to stop Sy on the ground.
3 - What Could Go Wrong
Cooper got caught coming forward against Howard. If he’s over-aggressive in this fight, he could catch a shin to the face.
#1 Glaico Franca vs. #4 Andre Fialho
Glaico Franca
1 - How He Got Here
Franca was the only welterweight fighter to earn stoppages in both of his regular season fights. The veteran submitted Gamzat Khiramagomedov and knocked out Sadibou Sy. 19 of Franca’s 21 career wins have come by stoppage and “The Brazilian Zombie” has won 8 in a row.
2 - How He Plans To Win
Franca won both of his fights this season on the ground utilizing his jiu jitsu, and that’s where he wants this fight against Fialho.
3 - What Could Go Wrong
If Franca underestimates Fialho’s takedown defense, he could end up in a boxing match with a boxer.
Andre Fialho
1 - How He Got Here
Fans have yet to see Fialho in the PFL cage after a full fight camp. As a late replacement, he only had 10 days to prepare for his first PFL fight against Chris Curtis, which he lost by 3rd round TKO. Fialho then qualified for the playoffs with a walkover win vs. Zane Kamaka
2 - How He Plans To Win
Fans are likely to be treated to a better version of Fialho than in his PFL debut. With time to prepare, the Portuguese striker could show off the skills that led to 7 career knockouts and a 4-1 run with Bellator.
3 - What Could Go Wrong
Fialho has less than half the number of career fights as Franca (12 vs. 26). Franca is clever, calculating and will have several strategies to get this fight to the ground.
#2 Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. #7 Chris Curtis
Magomed Magomedkerimov
1 - How He Got Here
Magomedkerimov has now won 10 straight overall and is 7-0 since entering the PFL. The 2018 champion won both of his regular season fights this year, submitting John Howard in the first round and defeating Chris Curtis by unanimous decision. The win against Curtis on July 11th came despite Magomedkerimov breaking his hand in the first round.
2 - How He Plans To Win
Magomedkerimov just defeated Curtis 3 months ago, and he did it by smothering the striker with takedowns and a superior ground game. Watch out for Magomedkerimov’s guillotine choke, which he’s used to win 2 of his last 3 fights.
3 - What Could Go Wrong
Curtis has tremendous confidence and possesses enough power to hurt any fighter in the league, even Magomedkerimov. The Russian has stayed true to his gameplan in every one of his PFL fights. Curtis will try to make him lose his concentration. If he does, he’s in trouble.
Chris Curtis
1 - How He Got Here
“The Action Man” started the season with a 3rd round TKO of Andre Fialho, his 8th straight win overall. But that streak was snapped by Magomedkerimov in a loss by unanimous decision. Curtis spent a good portion of the fight against Magomedkerimov trying to talk him into standing and trading, but it didn’t work.
2 - How He Plans To Win
Curtis has tremendous endurance and can wear down opponents with his precision striking, but in this 2-round quarterfinal, he doesn’t have time to waste. Curtis has gone 7 straight fights without a 1st or 2nd round stoppage. He likely needs to come out fast and break that streak.
3 - What Could Go Wrong
If Curtis starts slow against the Russian, he’ll wind up on the ground and in a rerun of their last fight. “The Action Man” could then be reduced to “The Talking Man”.
#4 John Howard vs. #5 David Michaud
John Howard
1 - How He Got Here
Howard moved down from 185 to 170 for the 2019 season. After getting submitted in his first fight of the regular season by returning champion Magomed Magomedkerimov, Howard rebounded with his playoff hopes on the line. The Boston native became the first fighter to ever knock out Ray Cooper III and he did it in the 1st round with massive left hooks.
2 - How He Plans To Win
Howard rediscovered his love of a good ole fashioned brawl in his last fight. Lucky for Howard, Michaud likes to brawl as well. Howard could look to test Michaud’s chin early and go for his 11th career knockout.
3 - What Could Go Wrong
Live by the sword, die by the sword. If Howard goes in hot, he could find out why Michaud has 9 career knockouts on his record.
David Michaud
1 - How He Got Here
David “The Bulldawg” Michaud is coming off a big win, a 1st round TKO of Handesson Ferreira to vault him into the playoffs. Prior to that, his season started with a brutal 17-second KO loss to Sadibou Sy by liver kick. 6 of Michaud’s last 7 fights ended in the 1st round.
2 - How He Plans To Win
Michaud is a very strong wrestler, and he could use those skills to smother Howard and set up a finish. Michaud has 14 career wins by stoppage.
3 - What Could Go Wrong
Michaud’s real advantage in this fight is in his wrestling, but the guy loves to throw his hands. If he gives Howard a chance to showcase his power, Michaud could wind up hitting the canvas just like Ray Cooper III.
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