[ad_1]
- Fights Live on ESPN+ at 8:00pm ET and ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes at 10:00pm ET
- Toughest Night in MMA: Fight Twice in One Night
- United Kingdom’s MMA Featherweight, Brendan Loughnane, Makes Highly Anticipated PFL Debut against Matt Wagy in a PFL New Fighter Showcase Bout
This Friday night, the Professional Fighters League (PFL), the first organization ever to present MMA through a Regular Season, Playoffs and Championship format, is bringing its electrifying fight twice in one-night playoff format to the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. PFL women’s lightweights Kayla Harrison and Sarah Kaufman are in action, while returning welterweight champion Magomed Magomedkerimov aims to fight his way through a stacked bracket. Winners will advance to the 2019 PFL World Championship on NYE in NYC, where a title and million-dollar prize is on the line.
The 2019 PFL Playoffs begin at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+, then the action continues on ESPN2 and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes at 10:00 p.m. ET. The PFL will again integrate its SmartCage technology into the broadcast experience, delivering dynamic, real-time fighter performance data and analytics that brings fans inside the cage like never before.
On ESPN2, 2X Olympic judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison returns to the cage against New Zealand’s Genah Fabian looking to keep her perfect 5-0 record intact. A dominating first-round submission victory over U.S. Army veteran Morgan Frier at PFL 4 locked in the #2 seed for Harrison, while Fabian’s clutch first-round TKO of Moriel Charneski clinched a playoff spot. Atop the division is former Strikeforce and Invicta FC Bantamweight champion Sarah Kaufman, the most experienced fighter in the division. The #1 seed faces Larissa Pacheco, who earned a spot in the playoffs with a first-round submission win against Bobbi Jo Dalziel at PFL 4
Welterweight quarterfinals and semifinals take place on the same night.
2018 PFL welterweight champion and current #2 seed, Magomed Magomedkerimov, opens his 2019 playoff campaign with a rematch against Chris Curtis. At PFL 4, Magomedkerimov earned a unanimous decision victory, battling through a broken hand to remain undefeated in his PFL career. Magomedkerimov has won 10 straight, including a second-round submission of Ray Cooper III in the 2018 championship fight. Ray Cooper takes on Sadibou Sy in the #3 vs. #6 quarterfinal, with the possibility of a championship rematch in the balance.
Boston-native John Howard is coming off an explosive regular season win where he became the first fighter to ever knock out Ray Cooper III. At 36 years old, Howard has the most career wins in the division with 28 and looks to continue against his opponent David Michaud. Michaud enters the playoffs on the heels of a first round TKO win over Handesson Ferreira. Brazilian Glaico Franca clinched the #1 seed in his first season with the PFL with a TKO win over Sy at PFL 4, and will face #8 seed Andre Fialho.
United Kingdom featherweight and rising MMA star, Brendan Loughnane, opens the night on ESPN+ in his PFL debut against Matt Wagy, fighting out of Delray Beach, Florida.
ESPN+ will feature the exclusive PFL Playoff Pre-Show on Thursday, October 10th at 9:00pm ET, to prepare fans for all of Friday’s Playoff action. A playoff preview show narrated by Jerry Ferrara debuts October 7 at 11:00pm ET on ESPN2 and re-airs on October 10 at 11:00pm ET on ESPNEWS. ESPN+ will feature the exclusive PFL Playoff Post-Show, live immediately following the event.
Calling the live action for the PFL Playoffs will be play-by-play announcer and 2018 PFL Light Heavyweight champion, Sean O’Connell. Alongside O’Connell serving as color analysts will be UFC Hall-of-Famer, Randy “The Natural” Couture, and former UFC Lightweight, Yves Edwards. Caroline Pearce will host the nights action, and former WWE Ring Announcer Lilian Garcia will introduce fighters to the cage as the In-Cage Announcer of the PFL.
MMA fans can sign up for ESPN+ at www.espnplus.com or through the ESPN App.
All times ET
[ad_2]
Source link