Kayla Harrison got the biggest test yet of her career at the PFL 2019 season opener, while Sarah Kaufman won big in her promotional debut. PFL 12 (Or PFL 1, as the promotion is calling it, going back to the start for the new season) saw the introduction of the women’s lightweight division. And while the UFC struggles to build a featherweight division, the 155lb women shone Thursday night.

None more so than Canada’s Sarah Kaufman, who pulled off a first-round submission against Morgan Frier, earning her six points towards a playoff berth, and first place in the standings. Kaufman, a former Strikeforce and Invicta FC bantamweight champion, was moving up in weight, looking for a third major title. And a million dollars in prize money at season’s end.

Harrison, the Olympic gold medalist in Judo, is the woman the division was built around. Yet the judoka had never been tested the way she was Thursday night in the PFL 2019 season opener. Larissa Pacheco of Brazil made Harrison go the distance, and even took Harrison’s back at one point, attempting a rear-naked choke.

It was the rare time fans had seen Harrison’s defensive game. She didn’t disappoint, reversing position to get on top. The rest of the fight? Basically one-sided in favor of Kayla Harrison. Still the fight marked the first time she had gone the distance.

Winning big in the welterweight division, Sadibou Sy set the PFL record for fastest knockout when he finished UFC alum David Michaud in just 17 seconds, thanks to a liver kick. Defending champ Magomed Magomedkerimov, meanwhile, won his opening bout as well.

Check below for a selection of highlights from PFL 2019 Week 1! For results and a main card recap, we’ve got you covered as well!

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The quest for a million dollars begins anew at the first even of the PFL 2019 season Thursday night. Going down from the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, the first event of the year for Ray Sefo and company featured Kayla Harrison atop the card, as the promotion attempts to build a lightweight division around the Olympic gold medalist.

As was the case last season, two weight classes would be featured on each PFL card. Alongside women’s lightweight was the welterweight division. One of the big match-ups to start the season, however, hit a snag at weigh-ins on Wednesday. Zane Kamaka missed weight for his fight with Ray Cooper III — who happens to be his cousin. That means he is ineligible to win any points towards the playoffs, win or loose. Cooper is automatically granted three points, and is now fighting for additional points should he finish the fight.

The action airs live on ESPN 2, ESPN+, and TSN in Canada. Check below for full results, and tune in come fight time for a recap of the main card action from the opening week of the Professional Fighters League 2019 season!

Sadibou Sy vs. David Michaud

Kicking off the main card at the first even of the PFL 2019 season was welterweight action between Sadibou Sy and David Michaud. Sy took part in the 2018 season for the league, while Michaud, a former UFC fighter, was making his PFL debut.

The pair traded kicks early, but Michaud was soon down as the result of a kick to the liver by Sy. He briefly thought about luring Sy into his guard, but quickly covered up in pain as Sy dropped a couple of bombs to secure the win!

Sadibou Sy def. David Michaud by knockout (body kick), Round 1, 0:17

Sarah Kaufman vs. Morgan Frier

Second up on Thursday’s PFL card, former UFC fighter and Strikeforce/Invicta FC bantamweight champ Sarah Kaufman moved up to the lightweight division. There, she met Morgan Frier in her first regular season bout.

Before long, Kaufman had the fight to the groun, and quickly moved to mount, dropping a number of punches to the head. She locked in an arm-triangle choke shortly after, and while Frier would try a couple of punches to the ribs, she was unable to escape, and soon tapped.

Sarah Kaufman def. Morgan Frier by submission (arm-triangle choke), Round 1, 2:22

Ray Cooper vs. Zane Kamaka

Cousins Ray Cooper III and Zane Kamaka threw down in welterweight action. However, with Kamaka missing weight, only Cooper was eligible to win any points.

Cooper opened by forcing Kamaka to the outside; Kamaka tried to escape with some lateral movement, but wound up on his back. Kamaka threatened with upkicks, but soon enough, Cooper was in guard, then half guard, after briefly threatening to mount. Cooper then worked on controlling from the back, as Kamaka worked his way to the feet. After dragging Kamaka back down, some heavy shots from Cooper followed. Kamaka managed to survive, while Cooper worked to tie him up and find a finish, which wasn’t there before the end of the round.

Round two opened with Cooper immediately taking his cousin back to the ground. He quickly tied up a leg, working from half guard then moving to guard and posturing up. Kamaka was tying Cooper up, but found himself unable to escape; he certainly wasn’t scoring points off his back. Eventually, Cooper would get the back, and the rear-naked choke, ending the fight in the second.

Ray Cooper III def. Zane Kamaka by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 4:29

Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. John Howard

It wasn’t long before defending champ Magomed Magomedkerimov had former UFC fighter John Howard to the ground in Thursday’s co-main event for the PFL 2019 season opener. Howard utilized a butteryfly guard, and later tried to maintain a whizzer off his back. Magomedkerimov, meanwhile, looked to create space to make something happen, but wound up back on his feet, navigating upkicks. He soon wound up back in guard, however. Soon enough, the champ was landing some big strikes; as Howard covered up and rolled over, Magomedkerimov locked in a guillotine, moving to it from full mount. That forced the tap, for another first round finish!

Magomed Magomedkerimov def. John Howard by submission (guillotine choke), Round 1, 4:54

Kayla Harrison vs. Larissa Pacheco

Kayla Harrison was back in action in the main event of the PFL season opener, taking on Larissa Pacheco. And not surprisingly, Harrison had the fight down early, and completely dominated in the grappling department. Harrison moved to side control for a time, landing a number of thunderous punches, then added more ground n’ pound, returning to her feet to drop bombs before moving back to half guard. Trying to make her way back up, Pacheco gave up the back, with Harrison slipping in the rear-naked choke. However, the Brazilian was saved by the bell.

In the second, Harrison backed Pacheco up, but this time, it was Pacheco who took Harrison down! She got the body triangle locked in, and looked for a rear-naked choke. Harrison, however, fought hands, then reversed, dropping some big punches in guard.  From there, Harrison was able to dominate the round as she had in the first, working from half-guard, dropping ground n’ pound, and controlling throughout.

Round three saw Harrison get the fight down a minute in. She passed to side control, and was once again able to dictate the fight from the top. Back in guard, she dropped more strikes from above. Pacheco attempted to find a last minute submission from her back, but never really came close, as Kayla Harrison walked away with the win.

Kayla Harrison def. Larissa Pacheco by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-27, 30-27)

PFL 2019 Week 1 Results:

Kayla Harrison def. Larissa Pacheco by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-27, 30-27)
Magomed Magomedkerimov def. John Howard by submission (guillotine choke), Round 1, 4:54
Ray Cooper III def. Zane Kamaka by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2, 4:29
Sarah Kaufman def. Morgan Frier by submission (arm-triangle choke), Round 1, 2:22
Sadibou Sy def. David Michaud by knockout (body kick), Round 1, 0:17
Handesson Ferreira def. Bojan Velickovic by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Bobbi Jo Dalziel def. Genah Fabian by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Glaico Franca def. Gamzat Khiramagomedov by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 4:06
Chris Curtis def. Andre Fialho by TKO, Round 3, 4:17
Roberta Samad def. Moriel Charneski by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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