Tag: Genah Fabian

2021 PFL Playoffs 2 results: Kayla Harrison dominates in first-round TKO win, advances to final

Kayla Harrison dominates Genah Fabian at the PFL Playoffs to advance to final of the 2021 season.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] is a PFL finalist once again.

The 2019 PFL women’s lightweight champion punched her ticket to the 2021 season final with a first-round TKO win over [autotag]Genah Fabian[/autotag] in the main event of 2021 PFL Playoffs 2. The official stoppage came at the 4:01 mark.

With this victory, Harrison (11-0) is set to take on Taylor Guardado, who defeated Mariana Morais via split decision, for the $1 million prize. The final is scheduled for Oct. 27 also at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood.

The 2021 PFL Playoffs 2 took place on Thursday night at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The main card air on ESPN and ESPN+ with the prelims exclusively on ESPN+.

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It was a quick night for Harrison.

Harrison cut the distance early on Fabian (4-2) and clinched her against the cage early in the round. From there, it took her some time to get to the canvas, but once she got the takedown it was a one-way street for Harrison.

The two-time judo Olympic gold medalist got the mount and just rained ground-and-pound on Fabian. The City Kickboxing fighter managed to survive for a few seconds, but eventually wasn’t able to get out, forcing the referee to call a stop to the fight.

Harrison remains unbeaten in her professional MMA career. The ATT product bested Mariana Morais and Cindy Dandois to enter the playoffs.

The full official 2021 PFL Playoffs 2 results include:

MAIN CARD (ESPN, ESPN+)

  • Kayla Harrison def. Genah Fabian via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:01 – women’s lightweight semifinal
  • Bruno Cappelozza def. Jamelle Jones via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:33 – heavyweight semifinal
  • Taylor Guardado def. Mariana Morais via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) – women’s lightweight semifinal
  • Ante Delija def. Denis Goltsov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – heavyweight semifinal

PRELIMINARY CARD

  • Renan Ferreira def. Stuart Austin via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 0:31
  • Muhammed DeReese def. Carl Seumanutafa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
  • Marina Mokhnatkina def. Claudia Zamora via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Amanda Leve def. Miranda Barber via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:18
  • Christian Lohsen def. Jonas Flok via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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Video: Watch the 2021 PFL Playoffs 2 post-fight press conference

Watch the 2021 PFL Playoffs 2 post-fight press conference from Hollywood, Fla.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – The PFL’s 2021 playoffs second week wrapped on Thursday with 2021 PFL Playoffs 2 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

Following the event, you can watch the post-event press conference on MMA Junkie to hear from the competitors of the event.

Expected to take part in the press conference are PFL president Ray Sefo, as well as winners from the event including Kayla Harrison, Bruno Cappelozza, Taylor Guardado, and Ante Delija.

Watch the post-fight press conference in the video above.

2021 PFL Playoffs 2 live and official results

Follow along with live results from PFL Playoffs 2, which is headlined by Kayla Harrison vs. Genah Fabian in a women’s lightweight semifinal.

2021 PFL Playoffs 2 takes place Thursday, and you can follow along with live results right here on MMA Junkie at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT).

The event, which features heavyweight and women’s lightweight playoffs, takes place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The main card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN+.

In the main event, 2019 PFL champion [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Genah Fabian[/autotag] in a women’s lightweight semifinal. The other semifinal pits [autotag]Taylor Guardado[/autotag] against [autotag]Mariana Morais[/autotag], who is filling in for top-seeded Larissa Pacheco after she missed weight by two pounds.

The full official 2021 PFL Playoffs 2 results include:

MAIN CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Kayla Harrison vs. Genah Fabian – women’s lightweight semifinal
  • Bruno Cappelozza vs. Jamelle Jones – heavyweight semifinal
  • Taylor Guardado vs. Mariana Morais – women’s lightweight semifinal
  • Ante Delija vs. Denis Goltsov – heavyweight semifinal

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

  • Stuart Austin vs. Renan Ferreira
  • Muhammed DeReese vs. Carl Seumanutafa
  • Marina Mokhnatkina vs. Claudia Zamora
  • Miranda Barber vs. Amanda Leve
  • Jonas Flok vs. Christian Lohsen

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Video: 2021 PFL Playoffs 2 ceremonial weigh-ins faceoff highlights

Check out the faceoffs, including Kayla Harrison vs. Genah Fabian, at the PFL Playoffs 2 ceremonial weigh-ins.

The 2021 PFL Playoffs 2 ceremonial weigh-ins took place Wednesday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., and you can watch highlights of the fighter faceoffs right here on MMA Junkie.

In the main event, 2019 women’s lightweight champion [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Genah Fabian[/autotag] as she aims to advance to the final for the second consecutive season.

You can watch their final faceoff of fight week, as well as the rest of the card, in the video above.

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Check out the compete PFL Playoffs 2 weigh-in results below:

MAIN CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Kayla Harrison (155.5) vs. Genah Fabian (156) – women’s lightweight semifinal
  • Bruno Cappelozza (235.5) vs. Jamelle Jones (250.75) – heavyweight semifinal
  • Taylor Guardado (155.5) vs. Mariana Morais (153.5) – women’s lightweight semifinal
  • Ante Delija (244.5) vs. Denis Goltsov (250) – heavyweight semifinal

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

  • Stuart Austin (246.5) vs. Renan Ferreira (252.75)
  • Muhammed DeReese (252) vs. Carl Seumanutafa (260.5)
  • Marina Mokhnatkina (156) vs. Claudia Zamora (148.75)
  • Miranda Barber (155.25) vs. Amanda Leve (153.5)
  • Jonas Flok (155.5) vs. Christian Lohsen (156)

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2021 PFL Playoffs 2 predictions: Is Kayla Harrison one of our two unanimous picks?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the 2021 PFL playoff semifinals in the women’s lightweight and heavyweight divisions.

Harrison
vs.
Fabian		 Cappelozza
vs.
Jones		 Pacheco
vs.
Guardado		 Goltsov
vs.
Delija
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2021: 124-77		 harrison2021
Harrison
(78%)		 cappelozza2021
Cappelozza
(66%)		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
(84%)		 goltsov2021
Goltsov
(74%)
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2021: 127-74		 harrison2021
Harrison		 jones2021
Jones		 pacheco2021
Pacheco		 goltsov2021
Goltsov
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2021: 125-76		 harrison2021
Harrison		 cappelozza2021
Cappelozza		 pacheco2021
Pacheco		 goltsov2021
Goltsov
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2021: 123-78
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 harrison2021
Harrison		 cappelozza2021
Cappelozza		 pacheco2021
Pacheco		 goltsov2021
Goltsov
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2021: 121-80
trophy copy 2020 Champion		 harrison2021
Harrison		 cappelozza2021
Cappelozza		 guardado2021
Guardado		 goltsov2021
Goltsov
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2021: 119-82
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 harrison2021
Harrison		 cappelozza2021
Cappelozza		 pacheco2021
Pacheco		 goltsov2021
Goltsov
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2021: 118-83		 harrison2021
Harrison		 cappelozza2021
Cappelozza		 pacheco2021
Pacheco		 goltsov2021
Goltsov
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2021: 118-83		 harrison2021
Harrison		 cappelozza2021
Cappelozza		 pacheco2021
Pacheco		 goltsov2021
Goltsov
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2021: 117-84		 harrison2021
Harrison		 cappelozza2021
Cappelozza		 guardado2021
Guardado		 goltsov2021
Goltsov
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2021: 116-85		 harrison2021
Harrison		 cappelozza2021
Cappelozza		 pacheco2021
Pacheco		 goltsov2021
Goltsov
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2021: 115-86		 harrison2021
Harrison		 cappelozza2021
Cappelozza		 pacheco2021
Pacheco		 goltsov2021
Goltsov
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2021: 113-88
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 harrison2021
Harrison		 cappelozza2021
Cappelozza		 pacheco2021
Pacheco		 goltsov2021
Goltsov
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2021: 112-89		 harrison2021
Harrison		 cappelozza2021
Cappelozza		 pacheco2021
Pacheco		 goltsov2021
Goltsov
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
2021: 46-39		 harrison2021
Harrison		 jones2021
Jones		 pacheco2021
Pacheco		 goltsov2021
Goltsov

(Editor’s note: Our picks published prior to the news of Larissa Pacheco being forced out after she weighed in two pounds over the limit.)

The PFL returns this week with the second of three straight weeks of semifinal fights.

2021 PFL Playoffs 2 takes place Thursday at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The main card airs on ESPN2 following prelims on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, 2019 women’s lightweight season winner [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (10-0) takes on [autotag]Genah Fabian[/autotag] (4-1) in the 2021 semifinals. Harrison won both her regular season fights by first-round stoppage for the maximum 12 points, but is the No. 2 seed because Larissa Pacheco had a shorter total fight time en route to her 12 points. Harrison is one of two unanimous picks from our 13 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers.

In the co-feature, top heavyweight seed [autotag]Bruno Cappelozza[/autotag] (12-5) takes on No. 4 [autotag]Jamelle Jones[/autotag] (12-6). After two first-round knockouts in the regular season, Cappelozza is a heavy 11-2 pick from our staff members.

The top women’s lightweight seed in the other semifinal is [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] (15-4), who is coming off two first-round finishes in the regular season. She’s a huge 11-2 pick against No. 4 seed [autotag]Taylor Guardado[/autotag] (2-1).

Our other unanimous pick on the main card is in the second heavyweight semifinal fight between [autotag]Denis Goltsov[/autotag] (27-6) and [autotag]Ante Delija[/autotag] (18-4). Goltsov had finishes of Muhammad DeReese and Brandon Sayles in the regular season.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Harrison (78 percent), Cappelozza (66 percent), Pacheco (84 percent) and Goltsov (74 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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Video: Kayla Harrison, Genah Fabian face off ahead of 2021 PFL Playoffs 2

Check out the 2021 PFL Playoffs 2 pre-fight faceoffs that followed Tuesday’s press conference.

2021 PFL Playoffs 2 is set to take place on Thursday, and the main card fighters including [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] and [autotag]Genah Fabian[/autotag] came face-to-face on Tuesday.

In the main event, Harrison (10-0) will face Fabian (4-1) for a place in the finals of the lightweight division where a $1 million prize awaits the winner.

Following Tuesday’s press conference, the main card fighters stared each other down for the first time.

2021 PFL Playoffs 2 takes place on Thursday, Aug. 19 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The main card airs on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET following prelims on ESPN+.

Check out the faceoffs in the video above.

The 2021 PFL Playoffs 2 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN2, ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Kayla Harrison vs. Genah Fabian – women’s lightweight semifinal
  • Bruno Cappelozza vs. Jamelle Jones – heavyweight semifinal
  • Larissa Pacheco vs. Taylor Guardado – women’s lightweight semifinal
  • Denis Goltsov vs. Ante Delija – heavyweight semifinal

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

  • Stuart Austin vs. Renan Ferreira
  • Marina Mokhnatkina vs. Kaitlin Young
  • Muhammed DeReese vs. Carl Seumanutafa
  • Zamzagul Fayzallanova vs. Mariana Morais
  • Amanda Leve vs. Cynthia Vescan

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Genah Fabian trusts her ‘team of scientists’ have devised a plan to defeat Kayla Harrison at 2021 PFL Playoffs 2

Genah Fabian trusts that her preparation will carry her to victory against Kayla Harrison.

[autotag]Genah Fabian[/autotag] will face the toughest test of her career in [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] at 2021 PFL Playoffs 2.

The pair were originally set to meet in 2019, but due to complications with Fabian’s weight cut, she withdrew from the bout. Now set to meet with a shot at the 2021 season finals and $1 million on the line, Fabian ensures she’s ready for the task at hand.

“Everyone’s unbeatable until they’re beaten,” Fabian said about her chances at winning during a pre-fight news conference call. “I believe that I’m the star. I’ve got the size, I’ve got the skillset to do so come Thursday night.”

Training at New Zealnd’s famed City Kickboxing along with many other high-level, champion-caliber fighters, Fabian credits her team and coaches for preparing her through repeated drills for a dominant grappler. Being ready for takedowns isn’t Fabian’s only source of confidence, however.

She believes that her style as a striker will present problems for Harrison, as she has continued to become more comfortable inside the cage during the time she was originally set to meet her undefeated opponent.

“There’s no doubt that where I want to keep it is on the feet, and I find my striking, but I’m also well-versed in many different areas, as well, that I haven’t been able to showcase yet because I haven’t needed to,” Fabian explained. “As I get my comfortability in the cage, I know that I’m just getting more and more settled and comfortable in there, and I haven’t even been able to show a different range of styles.

“So that’s motivating and exciting to me, and it plays into my hand. But I have no surprises really in terms of what I will be trying to do and what I’ll be trying to do that night.”

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Fabian defeated Laura Sanchez by unanimous decision and Julija Pajic by second-round TKO during the 2021 PFL regular season, setting up the semifinal matchup against Harrison, who won both of her regular-season fights by first-round stoppages. Fabian isn’t intimidated by Harrison’s record or her abilities inside the cage, though. She believes her own combination of size and striking along with a solid strategy on fight night will be enough to accomplish a major upset victory.

“I trust in my work and my coaches and the gameplan that they’ve devised,” Fabian said. “We’ve got a team of scientists, if you will, behind things. I just trust in the work that they’ve put me through the game plan and obviously my skill set and all my hard work that I’ve put not just into this particular camp, but over the years and over the last couple of years.”

2021 PFL Playoffs 2 takes place on Thursday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The main card airs on ESPN and following prelims on ESPN+.

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Kayla Harrison slams ‘disrespectful’ reporter for referring to Genah Fabian as a ‘pretty woman’

Kayla Harrison wasn’t about to let a reporter disrespect Genah Fabian even though they’re days away from throwing down.

[autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] wasn’t about to let a reporter disrespect [autotag]Genah Fabian[/autotag], even though they’re days away from throwing down in the cage.

During today’s 2021 PFL Playoffs 2 media day call, a reporter referred to Fabian as a “pretty woman,” then proceeded to ask a completely unrelated question. He asked Fabian if she was just going to stand there and strike from the outside or be the aggressor against the dominant Harrison.

Fabian first made sure to correct his pronunciation of her name and then politely responded to the question. But Harrison didn’t let the reporter off the hook, blasting him for irrelevantly bringing up Fabian’s looks to set up his question.

“Hey, I got a question for you,” Harrison asked the journalist. “If you were interviewing a guy, would you say to him after pronouncing his name wrong, would you say, ‘Hey, by the way, you’re a really handsome guy, but oh, you can fight, too.’ Would you say that to a guy? No. You just base how you talk to them based off of their skill and based off of them as a human being. Not, ‘Oh, you’re a beautiful man.’ I mean that’s pretty disrespectful. She’s a professional.”

After Harrison went at him, the reporter apologized, claiming that he meant no disrespect. But Harrison wasn’t having it, and while she may be vying for a finals spot against Fabian, that won’t stop her from having her back in what was a wholesome moment between the two fighters.

2021 PFL Playoffs 2 takes place Thursday at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

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Kayla Harrison vs. Genah Fabian headlines 2021 PFL Playoffs 2

The lineup for the PFL’s second 2021 playoff event is set, and one of the sport’s biggest female stars will headline.

The lineup for the PFL’s second 2021 playoff event is set, and one of the sport’s biggest female stars will headline.

[autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (10-0), the promotion’s 2019 women’s lightweight champion and a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, will headline 2021 PFL Playoffs 2 in a semifinal fight against [autotag]Genah Fabian[/autotag] (4-1).

PFL officials announced the full lineup for the card Tuesday. The event features semifinals at women’s lightweight and heavyweight on the main card, plus additional fights on the prelims. 2021 PFL Playoffs 2 takes place Aug. 19, a Thursday, at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The main card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN+.

“PFL’s second playoff event will feature an incredible and action-packed card that only the PFL can deliver to the 550 million MMA fans worldwide,” PFL CEO Peter Murray stated. “These athletes are putting it all on the line to secure a spot in the PFL championship. Nothing in sports compares to the intensity of a must-win scenario, and each of these fights are must-win.”

Harrison is the No. 2 seed behind top seed [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] (15-4), who fights No. 4 [autotag]Taylor Guardado[/autotag] (2-1) at the event. Harrison and Pacheco each had 12 points in the regular season from two first-round finishes, but Pacheco got the top seed based on a lower overall cage time.

At heavyweight, top seed [autotag]Bruno Cappelozza[/autotag] (12-5) takes on No. 4 [autotag]Jamelle Jones[/autotag] (12-6) in the co-main event, and No. 2 seed [autotag]Denis Goltsov[/autotag] (27-6) meets No. 3 [autotag]Ante Delija[/autotag] (18-4).

2021 PFL Playoffs 2 is the second of three events for the promotion in a 15-day stretch. The third playoff event takes place Aug. 27 with fights at featherweight and light heavyweight. The finalists will be set for the 2021 PFL title bouts, which will take place later this year. Each winner in six divisions becomes champion and earns $1 million.

The 2021 PFL Playoffs 2 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN2, ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Kayla Harrison vs. Genah Fabian – women’s lightweight semifinal
  • Bruno Cappelozza vs. Jamelle Jones – heavyweight semifinal
  • Larissa Pacheco vs. Taylor Guardado – women’s lightweight semifinal
  • Denis Goltsov vs. Ante Delija – heavyweight semifinal

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

  • Stuart Austin vs. Renan Ferreira
  • Marina Mokhnatkina vs. Kaitlin Young
  • Muhammed DeReese vs. Carl Seumanutafa
  • Zamzagul Fayzallanova vs. Mariana Morais
  • Amanda Leve vs. Cynthia Vescan

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2021 PFL playoffs: Rory MacDonald, Kayla Harrison get semifinal bookings

Check out the full lineups for the 2021 PFL playoff events, which kick off in August.

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The next chapter in the 2021 PFL season kicks off in August with playoff action.

After the conclusion of its regular season events in June, the promotion took a brief hiatus to allow the athletes on the roster to recover and focus on the next step, which centers around securing a place in the championship round for an opportunity at $1 million.

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., will play host to the playoff round, with events set for Aug. 13, Aug. 19 and Aug. 27 that air on ESPN or ESPN2 as well as stream on ESPN+.

“No sports league can match the thrilling action Professional Fighters League will deliver this August as the final four fighters for each weight division will compete for a spot in the $1 million world championship bout,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray in a press release. “The only playoff format in the sport gives every fighter a chance. The more than 550 million MMA fans around the world are going to witness unmatched intensity during every fight in the PFL SmartCage.”

Check below for the lineup for the 2021 PFL Playoffs, where notables such as Rory MacDonald, Kayla Harrison and more are scheduled to compete.