PFL 1 results: Kayla Harrison earns decision in Season 2 opener, but it doesn't come easily

Mark Lelinwalla

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PFL 1 results: Kayla Harrison earns decision in Season 2 opener, but it doesn't come easily image

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Kayla Harrison went from almost pulling off a submission to nearly being submitted herself.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo managed to survive the high drama and score a unanimous decision (30-25, 30-27, 30-27) over Larissa Pacheco during PFL 1 of Professional Fighters League Season 2 on Thursday night at NYCB Live at Nassau Coliseum and also on ESPN2.

Harrison took Pacheco's back and cinched in a rear-naked choke tightly as the 10-second warning hammer tolled in Round 1, but Pacheco was saved by the bell. It looked as though Harrison would dominate the rest of the fight.

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Pacheco, though, managed to return the favor during a whirling grappling sequence early in the second. She took Harrison's back and threatened her with an RNC of her own. As Pacheco locked in the submission hold and torqued back on Harrison's neck, the judoka powered through and somehow managed to break the hold. She rode out the turbulent wave and forced a third and deciding round.

Harrison smothered the game Brazilian on the mat in the third, taking top position and punishing her with punches for several moments. Sporting News scored the bout 30-27 in favor of Harrison, who had perhaps a harder fight than she bargained for in the 2019 season launch.

"I was never really worried that I’d get submitted," Harrison said in her postfight press conference, adding that she was more frustrated about making a mistake to land her in trouble in the second round.

"I think people underestimate my desire to be the best — to be perfect," she added. "I'm not just one of those people who says, 'I want to be world champion.' No, I want to go out and I want to dominate. I want to instill my will and I want people to beg to never have to fight me again, and when I feel like I fall short of that, I'm not happy."

Perhaps this was the kind of test Harrison needed. The judoka is still learning MMA, training with the American Top Team.

This was one of two regular-season matchups Harrison and the other PFL competitors will have before the league playoffs, where fighters will compete for $1 million in each division.

Co-main event: Magomed Magomedkerimov dominates John Howard for first-round submission (guillotine choke) to gain six points; welterweights

There was a moment where referee Rob Hinds took a closer look at the action and pondered whether to stop the bout. Magomedkerimov was punishing Howard with hammerfists at the time. Howard showed enough of a response to allow the fight to continue, but the reigning, defending $1 million welterweight champion made sure the end would come moments later. Magomedkerimov segued from the hammerfists to sneakily trap Howard in a guillotine choke for the first-round submission. The Russian opened his season with his ninth victory in a row and six points.

“I am here to dominate and double my million," Magomedkerimov said confidently in the cage after the victory. "I won't be satisfied otherwise.”

Ray Cooper III makes Zane Kamaka tap out for second-round submission (rear-naked choke) to garner five points; welterweights

Cooper seems hell-bent on returning to the welterweight final and, this time, winning it and the $1 million pot. Cooper showed no mercy on his own cousin, getting Kamaka to tap in Round 2.

The five-point submission came after Cooper pummeled Kamaka with punches. Kamaka still wanted a piece of his cousin after popping up off the canvas, showing how personal the fight was for the feuding Hawaiians.

Sarah Kaufman dominates Morgan Frier in first-round submission (arm triangle) to collect six points; Lightweights

Kaufman wanted to send a message in the PFL's new women’s lightweight (155 pounds) division. She did just that, and she made it look easy, too, as she trapped Frier in the arm triangle right smack in the middle of the cage.

"This was my first fight at 155. It felt so good to fight at a natural weight class," Kaufman, who earned six points, said in the cage following her victory. "This is exactly what I wanted coming in, earn six points and get momentum going toward the playoffs and championship. This is the beginning of an awesome journey."

Sadibou Sy finishes David Michaud in first-round KO (punches) to earn six points; welterweights

In the blink of an eye, Sy, "The Swedish Denzel Washington," connected on a head kick, followed by a left hand to the temple, to drop Michaud. Sy then pounced with hammerfists, which forced the referee to step in and stop the beating just 17 seconds into the fight. It was the second-fastest stoppage in PFL history.

"I saw an opportunity for a left kick and I took it,” Sy said during his postfight interview. "My left kick is second to none. I hit him right where I had to."

Sy put his fellow welterweights on notice with his impressive start to the tournament. He grabbed six points to begin his trek.

MORE: How to watch, live-stream Bellator 221: Chandler vs. Pitbull

Earlier results on ESPN+

  • Roberta Samad def. Moriel Charneski by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) to earn three points; lightweights
  • Chris Curtis def. Andre Fialho via third-round TKO (punches) to collect four points; welterweights
  • Glaico Franca def. Gamzat Khiramagomedov by first-round submission (rear-naked choke) to earn six points; welterweights
  • Bobbi Jo Dalziel def. Genah Fabien via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) to collect three points; lightweights
  • Handesson Ferreira def. Bojan Velickovic by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27); welterweights

Mark Lelinwalla

Mark Lelinwalla Photo

Mark Lelinwalla is a contributing writer and editor for DAZN News. He has written for the likes of the New York Daily News, Men's Health, The Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, Complex, XXL and Vibe Magazine.