Heavy favourite Kayla Harrison (7-0-0) defeated Larissa Pacheco (13-4-0) in the 2019 PFL Championship women’s lightweight final in New York Tuesday night to become the inaugural division champion.
Ending the last fight of decade, @KaylaH makes history going into 2020. #PFLChampionship
Cagenomics presented by @GEICO pic.twitter.com/Gok6jy7KXt
— PFL MMA (@ProFightLeague) January 1, 2020
With former boxing champion Mike Tyson and UFC champions Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo watching ringside, Harrison used her takedowns and control to dominate the match, but it was punctuated by a good knee in the third round and a ten-finger choke attempt in the fifth round by Pacheo.
Airborn! Courtesy of @KaylaH in round 4. The final round of the decade is coming up on ESPN2. #PFLChampionship pic.twitter.com/35U7g5GqAz
— PFL MMA (@ProFightLeague) January 1, 2020
The judges scored it 50-43, 50-45, and 50-45.
In addition to winning the title, Harrison also collected USD $1 million.
Recently signed welterweight Rory MacDonald and former WWE superstar Mick Foley were cageside.
“These fighters left it all out in the cage tonight in front of a raucous Madison Square Garden crowd,” PFL head of fighter operations Ray Sefo said in a press release. “We started with 68 fighters, and ended with six champions who earned this moment by winning in the cage. It was a truly historic and memorable night for our champions and fights fans around the world.”
In other bouts:
Welterweight Final: #6 Ray Cooper III def. #4 David Michaud via RKO (punches) R2 2:56 (Cooper III wins $1 million USD)
THE HAWAIIAN CHAMPION! Ray Cooper III will return to the island a millionaire and the 2019 PFL Welterweight Champion! #PFLChampionship #AndNew pic.twitter.com/nKaKb9KKHZ
— PFL MMA (@ProFightLeague) January 1, 2020
Lightweight Final: #1 Natan Schulte def. #7 Loik Radzhabov via UD (49-44, 49-46, 48-47)
THE BRAZILIAN REIGN CONTINUES! @NatanSchulte brings another million dollar performance to NYC and is the back-to-back PFL Lightweight Champion! #PFLChampionship #BackToBack pic.twitter.com/cKSfY1rnN3
— PFL MMA (@ProFightLeague) January 1, 2020
Heavyweight Final: #5 Ali Isaev def. #7 Jared Rosholt via TKO (strikes) R4 4:09 (Isaev wins $1 million USD)
With devastating ground-and-pound, Ali Isaev stays undefeated in the 2019 #PFLChampionship season and is a PFL Champion! pic.twitter.com/AufpHiKdoy
— PFL MMA (@ProFightLeague) January 1, 2020
Featherweight Final: Lance Palmer def. Alex Gilpin via UD (50-43, 50-44, 50-44) (Palmer wins $1 million USD)
THE PARTY NEVER ENDS! @LancePalmer rings in 2020 with another $1 Million Dollar Belt and is a #Back2Back PFL Champion! #PFLChampionship pic.twitter.com/AwToTJX6b6
— PFL MMA (@ProFightLeague) January 1, 2020
Light Heavyweight Final: Emiliano Sordi def. Jordan Johnson via TKO (strikes) R1 2:01 (Sordi wins $1 million USD)
Meet one of 2020’s newest millionaires! @emilianosordi 🇦🇷 with an explosive performance! #PFLChampionship pic.twitter.com/7CKiG81T2v
— PFL MMA (@ProFightLeague) January 1, 2020
PRELIMS:
Brendan Loughnane def. David Alex Valente via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
