Changing lives, #ChangingTheGame.
The 2019 #PFLmma season starts Thursday, May 9. https://t.co/4sBhZubzlv pic.twitter.com/YtXgJuA4d5— #PFLmma (@ProFightLeague) April 4, 2019
The Professional Fighters League has revealed the first three events from their 2019 regular season schedule, with each of the three events focusing on two specific weight classes.
On Thursday, the promotion announced the lineup in their official press release of the first three events making up the first half of their regular season. All six of the weight classes will be featured throughout these events. PFL 1 on May 9 will feature welterweights and women’s lightweights, while PFL 2 on May 23 will focus on featherweights and lightweights, and PFL 3 on June 6 will play host to the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. Each of their men’s divisions will hold 12 total fighters, while the women’s lightweight division has eight participants. Throughout the past few months, the promotion has been releasing parts of their roster for this upcoming season.
Appearing on the first event in Long Island, N.Y., will be the debut of the women’s lightweight division, as Kayla Harrison will clash with Svetlana Khautova, and Sarah Kaufman will compete against Morgan Frier. At welterweight, last year’s middleweight king Louis Taylor is dropping down to 170 pounds to capture gold in that division as well, making his 2019 debut against Chris Curtis.
PFL 2 will also take place on Long Island, and both lightweight and featherweight champions from the previous season are returning to vie for the championships once again. Lightweight Natan Schulte will face Yincang Bao, while featherweight Lance Palmer will meet Alex Gilpin.
The third event on the 2019 calendar will have Philipe Lins starting his run to try to win the heavyweight tournament once again, when he takes on Olympic gold medalist judoka Satoshi Ishii. Also on the card is light heavyweight finalist Vinny Magalhaes, who makes his return against newcomer Jorge Gonzalez.
Ray Sefo, President of PFL Fighter Operations, stated, “In the PFL, there is no undercard, every fight counts. Every fighter on our roster enters the regular season knowing that if they win, and score maximum points, they will enter the postseason with a chance to compete for a PFL Championship and one-million dollars.” He continued, “The journey begins at PFL 1, 2 and 3. These are tone-setting fights and fans will see quality, action-packed matchups featuring the best fighters across six weight divisions from over 14 countries around the world.” While the lineups have been released, the promotion has also stated that the matchups as well as the broadcasting times are subject to change.
PFL 1 2019 Lineup:
Sarah Kaufman (20-4-1) vs. Morgan Frier (4-1)
Ray Cooper III (17-6) vs. Zane Kamaka (13-3)
Magomed Magomedkerimov (23-5) vs. John Howard (27-14-1)
Kayla Harrison (3-0) vs. Svetlana Khautova (2-0)
Louis Taylor (18-4-1) vs. Chris Curtis (20-5)
Handesson Ferreira (13-2-1) vs. Bojan Velickovic (16-8-2)
Larissa Pacheco (11-2) vs. Roberta Samad (4-1)
Gamzat Khiramagomedov (7-0) vs. Glaico Franca (19-5)
Genah Fabian (1-0) vs. Bobbi Jo Dalziel (4-0)
Sadibou Sy (7-4-1) vs. David Michaud (15-4)
PFL 2 2019 Lineup:
Rashid Magomedov (22-3-1) vs. Loik Radzhabov (11-0)
Islam Mamedov (16-2) vs. Ylies Djiroun (16-4)
Alexandre Almeida (20-9) vs. Luis Rafael Laurentino (33-1)
Akhmed Aliev (17-4) vs. Carlos Eduardo Silva Fonseca (11-1)
Ramsey Nijem (10-7) vs. Ronys Torres (37-6)
Andre Harrison (20-1) vs. Freddy Assuncao (10-1)
Chris Wade (14-5) vs. Nate Andrews (15-1)
Lance Palmer (17-3) vs. Alex Gilpin (12-1)
Steven Siler (32-18-1) vs. TBA
Damon Jackson (16-2-1) vs. Movlid Khaibulaev (13-0)
Alexandre Bezerra (22-6) vs. Jeremy Kennedy (13-1)
Natan Schulte (15-3-1) vs. Yincang Bao (12-6, 1 NC)
PFL 3 2019 Lineup:
Alex Nicholson (13-7) vs. Francimar Barroso (22-7-1-1)
Rashid Yusupov (10-1) vs. Mikhail Mokhnatkin (11-3-2)
Ronny Markes (18-7) vs. Sigi Pesaleli (3-0)
Maxim Grishin (28-7-1) vs. Jordan Johnson (10-0)
Valdrin Istrefi (13-2) vs. Ali Isaev (4-0)
Smealinho Rama (11-5-1) vs. Viktor Nemkov (26-7)
Kelvin Tiller (10-2) vs. Muhammed DeReese (7-0)
Philipe Lins (14-3) vs. Satoshi Ishii (20-8-1)
Ben Edwards (4-0) vs. Ante Delija (15-3)
Jared Rosholt (17-6) vs. Denis Goltsov (22-5)
Dan Spohn (18-6) vs. Bozigit Ataev (19-3)
Vinny Magalhaes (18-10-1) vs. Jorge Gonzalez (15-4)