MMA News: Kayla Harrison Looks To Continue Dominance At PFL Playoffs 2

KEY POINTS

Kayla Harrison is looking to advance to the championship round
Genah Fabian aims to deal Harrison her first PFL defeat on Thursday
Bruno Cappelozza faces No. 4-seeded Jamelle Jones in the co-main event

2019 PFL Women’s Lightweight World Champion Kayla Harrison will look to continue her reign of dominance over the Professional Fighters League’s 155-pound women’s division when she faces exciting Kiwi newcomer Genah Fabian in the main event of PFL Playoffs 2 on Thursday, August 19 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Harrison has been nothing short of flawless in her professional mixed martial arts career.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo made a successful jump to the sport and eventually became one of the PFL’s biggest stars, capturing the league’s women’s lightweight championship two years ago.

This season has been no different for Harrison, who blew through the regular season by picking up a pair of submission wins to finish as the No. 2-seed.

She needed just 83 seconds to submit Mariana Morais at PFL 3 and then followed that up with a first-round armbar against veteran Cindy Dandois at PFL 6.

With a second-straight trip to the postseason, Harrison is again just two wins away from fulfilling her promise of a "coronation."

Standing in front of Harrison, however, will be New Zealand’s Fabian, who turned in an impressive regular season campaign as well.

Looking to build off a solid showing during the 2019 season, Fabian decisioned Laura Sanchez at PFL 3, before securing her spot in the postseason with a second-round TKO win over Julija Pajic to finish as the No. 3-seed.

Fabian will be facing the toughest test of her career in the form of Harrison.

The winner of this women’s lightweight semi-final main event advances to the championship bout in October.

In the other women’s semi-final matchup, No. 1-seeded Larissa Pacheco of Brazil takes on No. 4-ranked Taylor Guardado of the United States.

Newcomers Headline Heavyweight Semifinals

In the co-main event, the heavyweights head to the cage, as No. 1-seeded Bruno Cappelozza takes on No. 4-ranked Jamelle Jones in a matchup of PFL newcomers.

A veteran of promotions such as RIZIN and Jungle Fight, Brazil’s Cappelozza has been impressive in his maiden PFL season, finishing as the top seed off the strength of a pair of first-round knockouts.

Cappelozza needed just 46 seconds to take out Ante Delija at PFL 3 and then followed that up with a 2-minute-and-21-second demolition of Muhammad DeReese at PFL 6.

The Sao Paulo native looks to cap off an impressive rookie season with a trip to the heavyweight finals, and potentially even a PFL championship.

Looking to do just the same will be American Jones, who needed just one big win to earn a spot in the postseason.

Jones was a late addition to the PFL’s 2021 heavyweight roster and made an immediate impact in his debut at PFL 6 with a first-round TKO over Klidson Abreu.

The win was enough to push him into the No. 4 spot and earn a seat in the semifinals. Now, he also looks to go on a deep run in the playoffs.

In the other heavyweight semi-final matchup, 2019 finalist Denis Goltsov of Russia meets Ante Delija (18-4) of Croatia.

Complete PFL Playoff 2 Fight Card

ESPN Card

Women’s Lightweight Semi-Final Bout

Kayla Harrison vs. Genah Fabian

Heavyweight Semi-Final Bout

Bruno Cappelozza vs. Jamelle Jones

Women’s Lightweight Semi-Final Bout

Larissa Pacheco vs. Taylor Guardado

Heavyweight Semi-Final Bout

Denis Goltsov vs. Ante Delija