Professional Fighters League (PFL) News
PFL tells Ali Abdelaziz not to attend any event until battery case is resolved
Mike Pendleton - October 16, 2019
Following an incident that took place at a recent Professional Fighters League event earlier this month, the PFL has requested that manager Ali Abdelaziz not attend any events moving forward. Abdelaziz was involved in an altercation with another manager, Abe Kawa, in which Las Vegas Police reported that Abdelaziz struck Kawa in the face with a closed fist. After the police opened up an investigation to the incident, PFL has decided to keep Abdelaziz away from events for the immediate future until the case is resolved. As first reported by Brett Okamoto of ESPN, the PFL has requested that Abdelaziz does not attend any PFL events.
PFL President confirms interest in Cris Cyborg
Tom Taylor - August 15, 2019
The battle for Cris Cyborg has begun. Weeks removed from her UFC release, the former UFC, Invicta and Strikeforce champion is already being courted by other promotions.
Kayla Harrison says she's 'like a female Khabib but better'
Adam Martin - August 7, 2019
PFL women’s lightweight contender Kayla Harrison is fighting with so much confidence these days. The Olympic gold medalist judoka is a perfect 5-0 in MMA and has gone public in calling for a fight against Cris Cyborg. Now, she is on record comparing herself to arguably the best fighter in the sport, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Harrison was recently interviewed by ESPN and asked who she would compare herself to. She said she believes she’s most like “The Eagle.”
Kayla Harrison sends confident message to Cris Cyborg
Mike Heck - August 6, 2019
Kayla Harrison is not intimidated by Cris Cyborg, or the thought that the former UFC women’s featherweight champion may grace the Professional Fighters League with her presence. As a matter of fact, Harrison looks to welcome that challenge with open arms.
Jeremy Kennedy explains how he'll spend $1M if he wins PFL playoffs
Cole Shelton - May 23, 2019
UFC veteran Jeremy Kennedy is set to make his PFL debut tonight when he takes on Luis Rafael after his initial opponent was pulled for missing weight. However, the opponent change isn’t impacting Kennedy, who is no doubt ready to fight and win all the same. This will be Kennedy’s first time competing in a tournament format. The 26-year-old is excited about the matchmaking integrity the tournament format ensures. He can let his fighting do the talking.
Lance Palmer targets second $1M PFL win with a new team behind him
Tom Taylor - May 23, 2019
Last year, Lance Palmer took his impressive MMA career to new heights, winning the featherweight playoffs in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and earning a gold belt and $1M prize for his efforts. This season, he’ll look to accomplish the same feat with a new team behind him. Ahead of his first PFL bout of the season, which will pit him against Alex Gilpin this very evening, Palmer has relocated to New Jersey where he is training under renowned coach Mark Henry.
Josh Copeland pleads guilty to domestic violence, gets cut from PFL
Adam Martin - May 22, 2019
Heavyweight Josh Copeland is no longer part of the PFL roster. According to a report from TMZ, Copeland on Tuesday pleaded guilty in Colorado to felony second and third-degree assault in a domestic violence incident in which he allegedly struck his wife in the face during an argument. A previous TMZ report indicated police were called to the Copeland residence on February 2 when his wife told officers that her husband punched her in the face, leading to bruising and bleeding, which the officers noted. Copeland was arrested at the scene, and later posted bond.
PFL 1 results: Kayla Harrison, Ray Cooper III and Sarah Kaufman advance
Tom Taylor - May 10, 2019
On Thursday night, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) returned to our screens with the first instalment of its anticipated season. This PFL 1 card featured a number of high-profile bouts in the compelling PFL women’s lightweight and men’s welterweight divisions. In the PFL 1 main event, promotional golden child Kayla Harrison picked up the biggest victory of her career, defeating the experienced Larissa Pachecho via unanimous decision, picking up three points in the process.
Sarah Kaufman reflects on awkward build-up to Ronda Rousey fight that included 'latex sex suits'
Drake Riggs - April 3, 2019
On February 26, 2010, Sarah Kaufman became the first ever Strikeforce bantamweight champion when she defeated Takayo Hashi via unanimous decision. The champion would defend her title once against future top flyweight, Roxanne Modafferi before dropping it to Dutch pioneer, Marloes Coenen.
PFL Announces Final Additions to 2019 Roster
Nolan King - April 1, 2019
Monday morning, the PFL announced the final roster additions to their sophomore season via ESPN. Making the final cut were twenty lucky combatants from all over the globe. Notable names include returning PFL veterans Ronny Markes and Francimar Barroso, UFC veterans Jeremy Kennedy, Glaico Franca, Ronys Torres, and Damon Jackson, as well as fan-favorite Contender Series veteran Chris Curtis.
PFL announces more names for 2019 roster
Nolan King - March 21, 2019
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is gearing up for its sophomore season, loading up its roster with faces both new and old. On Thursday afternoon, PFL announced its second batch of participants who will be entering the 2019 tournament via ESPN as well as a promotional video.
BREAKING | PFL unveils women's lightweight roster, featuring Kayla Harrison, Sarah Kaufman and others
Tom Taylor - March 8, 2019
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has officially announced the roster for its women’s lightweight division. The league announced this news on its official website early on Friday afternoon.
PFL suspends Josh Copeland after arrest, issues statement
Tom Taylor - February 12, 2019
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has indefinitely suspended heavyweight fighter Josh Copeland following his recent arrest, which stemmed from a domestic violence incident in early February. The PFL issued a statement on the Josh Copeland situation on Monday evening (via MMA Fighting).
Report | PFL heavyweight Josh Copeland arrested after allegedly assaulting wife in front of child
Tom Taylor - February 11, 2019
According to a report from TMZ, PFL heavyweight contender Josh Copeland has been arrested for allegedly assaulting his wife in front of their child. Per a police report obtained by TMZ, law enforcement in Adams County, Colorado received a call about an attack and rushed to the couple’s home on Feb. 2. When officers arrived at the scene, Copeland’s wife had “an obvious bruise on her left eye, a cut and was bleeding. There was blood down the front of her face and neck.”
Jon Fitch doubts PFL winners will receive their $1 million prizes
Tom Taylor - January 28, 2019
On New Years, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) crowned the winners of its first-ever season. The winners in each division were handed world title belts and million-dollar checks. Yet in the opinion of Jon Fitch, who held the welterweight title when the PFL was still called World Series of Fighting, those checks might never clear. “I think those guys who won the tournament are going to be thinking about, ‘What happened to my million?” Fitch said backstage at Bellator 214 (via MMAjunkie). “I don’t have any faith that those guys are going to get paid their full amount.”
Cris Cyborg open to lightweight fight with PFL star Kayla Harrison
Tom Taylor - January 17, 2019
Last night, new UFC featherweight champ Amanda Nunes stated — apparently jokingly — that she is done with the featherweight division. Nunes followed this announcement by suggesting that Cris Cyborg, the woman she knocked out to win the UFC featherweight belt, fight lightweight prospect Kayla Harrison. Sorry Cristiane but I’m done with 145. My Goal was to be a double champ. But, now I can help you build the division. I got someone for you @Judo_Kayla is a true 145er
EXCLUSIVE | Sean O'Connell: A regular dude with a gold belt
Tom Taylor - January 4, 2019
Sean O’Connell has two black eyes and a couple of scrapes criss-crossing his face. For now, The Salt Lake City resident still has the mug of a prizefighter, but as of a few days ago, he isn’t one. O’Connell ended his fighting career on New Years Eve, moments after he thumped Vinny Magalhaes to win the Professional Fighters League (PFL) light heavyweight title and a million-dollar prize.
PFL's Kayla Harrison still hoping to fight Cris Cyborg
Tom Taylor - January 4, 2019
Rising PFL star Kayla Harrison is often compared to fellow Olympic judoka Ronda Rousey. Yet she says one of the main differences between her and Rousey is that she actually wants to fight Cris Cyborg. “That’s always been the difference between me and Ronda Rousey,” Harrison told ESPN recently. “She never wanted to fight Cyborg. I was always like, ‘I can’t wait to fight Cyborg.’