PFL 7: Welterweight, Women’s Lightweight Finals Set
The finals for the 2019 PFL welterweight and women’s lightweight divisions were set at PFL in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 11, and neither will feature the top seed heading into the promotion’s postseason.
The women’s lightweight final was expected to be Kayla Harrison vs. Sarah Kaufman, however, Kaufman found herself dominated by Larissa Pacheco, as Pacheco went on to score a unanimous decision.
OVERWHELMING attack from @pachecolarissa_! #PFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/N8MazSQwbK
— #PFLmma (@ProFightLeague) October 12, 2019
Harrison, meanwhile, advanced to the final with a first-round submission of late fill-in opponent, Bobbi-Jo Dalziel.
As golden as ever under the bright lights! @KaylaH remains undefeated and is headed to the #PFLChampionship on New Year’s Eve. #PFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/iN6yjbftOs
— #PFLmma (@ProFightLeague) October 12, 2019
The welterweight side of action saw fighters need to win twice in order to advance to the final. The semi-final matchups set earlier in the evening saw top-seed Glaico Franca (who defeated Andre Filho earlier in the evening) face David Michaud (who defeated John Howard) and a rematch of last year’s final between defending champion and No. 2 seed Magomed Magomedkerimov (who defeated Chris Curtis) and Ray Cooper III (who battled Sadibou Sy to a majority draw and advanced on judges’ call based on overall performance).
Franca and Michaud battled in an entertaining, close scrap in the main event of the evening, with Michaud edging Franca out on a majority decision to advance to the final and eliminate the 170-pound division’s top seed.
The rematch between Magomedkerimov and Cooper, however, never happened. Magomedkerimov reportedly suffered a concussion and vomiting during the evening and was forced to withdraw from the competition.
Cooper instead faced Curtis, who had just announced retirement following his loss to Magomedkerimov.
Cooper knocked out Curtis seconds into the second round.
RAY COOPER III!!! 💣💣💣
He's heading back to the #PFLChampionship on New Year's Eve! #PFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/t5vvykDvHC
— #PFLmma (@ProFightLeague) October 12, 2019
PFL 7 Main Card:
David Michaud def. Glaico Franca via majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Ray Cooper III def. Chris Curtis* via KO (Rd. 2, 0:11)
Kayla Harrison def. Bobbi-Jo Dalziel via submission (Rd. 1, 3:32)
Larissa Pacheco def. Sarah Kaufman via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
David Michaud def. John Howard via unanimous decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18)
Magomed Magomedkerimov def. Chris Curtis via unanimous decision (20-17, 20-18, 20-18)
PFL 7 Preliminary Card:
Glaico Franca def. Andre Fialho via majority decision (19-19, 20-18, 20-18)
Sadibou Sy vs. Ray Cooper III goes to a majority draw (Cooper advances to semifinals on unanimous judges’ call based on overall performance)
Nikolay Aleksakhin def. Jesse Ronson via TKO (Rd. 1, 3:37)
Brendan Loughnane def. Matt Wagy via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
*Curtis replaced Magomedkerimov, who suffered from a concussion and vomiting prior to the semifinal