PFL 2019, Week 1 results: Harrison goes the distance in win vs. Pacheco

Check out the results and highlights from PFL’s 2019 season opener on Long Island, where Kayla Harrison defeated Larissa Pacheco in the main event.

The opening week of PFL’s 2019 is in the books. Week-one was capped off with Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison dominating Larissa Pacheco on the ground for three rounds to win a decision, and three points on the board.

Harrison worked her strikes to start the fight, but quickly switched to her grappling, hitting a takedown. Pacheco did not return to her feet in the opening round, and even had to fight off a rear-naked choke as time expired. It was Pacheco who took the back early in the second round, but Harrison was able to spin into top position. A couple of ground strikes got through for Harrison, as again Pacheco did not find a way back to her feet before the round ended. Harrison went right back to the takedown in the third round, planting Pacheco on her back and keeping her there.

In the co-main event, last year’s tournament winner Magomed Magomedkerimov became the first man to ever submit longtime MMA veteran John Howard. It took all of about 30-seconds for Magomedkerimov to achieve a takedown on Howard. He controlled the UFC vet for the better part of the round, before jumping a mounted guillotine in the closing moments. Howard was dead to rights and forced to tap with only six-seconds remaining in the round, awarding Magomedkerimov six points on the season. Out of 43-fights, this was the first time that anyone has ever submitted the 36-year-old “Doomsday.”

Before that, Ray Cooper III choked out his cousin Zane Kamaka in the second round to secure himself five points. Cooper walked down his cousin right out of the gate and quickly found top position. He maintained control for the entire round, sprinkling in some ground strikes here and there. Kamaka found himself fighting on the floor again in the second act, and ended up exposing his back and neck. Cooper sunk the choke to get the tap.

Also on the main card, Sarah Kaufman pulled out a first-round submission of Morgan Frier to earn herself six points. It didn’t take very long for Kaufman to find top position and move right into the full mount. The choke presented itself and Kaufman took full advantage of it, prompting the tap in just under half-a-round. Opening up the main card, Sadibou Sy made quick work of David Michaud. He blasted his foe with a body kick that stung, dropping Michaud in the opening sequence. Sy came in with the ground strikes and Michaud was unable to recover, resulting in a quick 17-second ending and six points on the season.

Main card:

• Kayla Harrison def. Larissa Pacheco by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-27 x2): (W) Lightweight

+3 points for Harrison

• Magomed Magomedkerimov def. John Howard by submission (Guillotine) at 4:54 of round 1: Welterweight

+6 points for Magomedkerimov

• Ray Cooper III def. Zane Kamaka by submission (RNC) at 4:29 of round 2: Welterweight

+5 points for Cooper

*It should be noted that Kamaka missed weight

• Sarah Kaufman def. Morgan Frier by submission (Arm Triangle) at 2:22 of round 1: (W) Lightweight

+6 points for Kaufman

• Sadibou Sy def. David Michaud by knockout at :17 of round 1: Welterweight

+6 points for Sy

Prelims:

• Handesson Ferreira def. Bojan Velickovic by unanimous decision: Welterweight

+3 points for Ferreira

• Bobbi Jo Dalziel def. Genah Fabian by unanimous decision: (W) Lightweight

+3 points for Dalziel

• Glaico Franca def. Gamzat Khiramagomedov by submission (RNC) at 4:06 of round 1: Welterweight

+6 points for Franca

• Chris Curtis def. Andre Fialho by knockout at 4:17 of round 3: Welterweight

+4 points for Curtis

• Roberta Samad def. Moriel Charneski by unanimous decision: (W) Lightweight

+3 points for Samad