Tag: Mariana Morais

2021 PFL Playoffs 2 video highlights: Kayla Harrison harsh on the mat – and mic

The PFL set its 2021 playoff finals in two more divisions Thursday, and a reigning champ will be looking for a repeat.

The PFL set its 2021 playoff finals in two more divisions Thursday, and a reigning champ will be looking for a repeat.

[autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (11-0), the 2019 women’s lightweight season winner, kept her perfect record intact in the main event when she pounded out [autotag]Genah Fabian[/autotag] (4-2) in the first round. She moved into the October $1 million final against [autotag]Taylor Guardado[/autotag] (3-1), who outworked [autotag]Mariana Morais[/autotag] (17-12) in the other semifinal.

After her win, Harrison was arguably more vocal than ever before in her post-fight time on the microphone and asserted she’s the best in the world and no one can stop her, particularly once she takes the fight to the canvas.

At heavyweight, the final is set after No. 1 seed [autotag]Bruno Cappelozza[/autotag] (13-5) stopped [autotag]Jamelle Jones[/autotag] (12-7), an alternate who got in the playoffs with just one regular season fight, with a second-round TKO. He’ll take on No. 3 seed [autotag]Ante Delija[/autotag] (19-4), who got past No. 2 [autotag]Denis Goltsov[/autotag] with a unanimous decision.

Check out the highlights from those four playoff fights, as well as bouts from the prelims, in the 2021 PFL Playoffs 2 video above.

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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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2021 PFL 3 video highlights: Controversy, dominance, upset rule wild night

Reacap the action from PFL 3, where Fabricio Werdum lost in controversial fashion, while Kayla Harrison picked up where she left off in 2019.

The PFL was back in action Thursday, and what a wild night of twists and turns it was – except for one defending champion picking up right where she left off.

In the main event, former UFC champ [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag] (24-10-1) made his promotional debut, which ended with a TKO loss to [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] (7-2) in controversial fashion after video replays showed referee Keith Peterson missed Ferreira tapping out while in a triangle choke. In the co-headliner, 2019 PFL champ [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (9-0) needed only 83 seconds to take out [autotag]Mariana Morais[/autotag] (16-11). The night also featured a surprise upset for [autotag]Brandon Sayles[/autotag] (6-1), who choked out [autotag]Mohammed Usman[/autotag] (7-2) in the second round.

Check out the highlights from 2021 PFL 3, which featured fights in the heavyweight and women’s lightweight divisions, in the video above.

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2021 PFL 3 video: Massive favorite Kayla Harrison dominates for quick TKO

It was a businesslike performance for Kayla Harrison on Thursday in her quest for a second $1 million title.

It was a businesslike performance for [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] on Thursday.

Harrison (9-0), the 2019 PFL women’s lightweight season winner needed only 83 seconds to take out [autotag]Mariana Morais[/autotag] (16-11) with a TKO. The quick win earned Harrison 6 points to open up her 2021 regular season in a quest to win a second $1 million crown.

Harrison was the highest betting favorite by far at 2021 PFL 3 in Atlantic City, N.J. She could be found as high as -5000 just before the start of the fight.

Harrison kicked high in the first couple seconds. Morais threw a jab. But 10 seconds in, Harrison had Morais clinched up and backed to the fence. And just 45 seconds in, Harrison tripped Morais to the canvas.

Morais covered up and rolled over with Harrison drilling her with punches from full mount. Morais had nothing to offer up defensively, and it didn’t take long for referee Gary Copeland to shut things down.

“This isn’t a tournament. It’s a coronation, and I’m the queen, OK?” Harrison said in her post-fight interview. “I’m not one to talk a lot of crap. But it seems like everyone from boxers to YouTube idiots seem like they can get in there. … But from now on, I’m the baddest woman in this room, or any room.”

Check out video of Harrison’s easy win over Morais below.

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2021 PFL 3 live results

The PFL’s 2021 season continues Thursday, and you can get live results of all the action here at MMA Junkie beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET.

The PFL’s 2021 season continues Thursday, and you can get live results of all the action here at MMA Junkie beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET.

2021 PFL 3 takes place at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.

The card sees the heavyweight and women’s lightweight divisions kick off their 2021 campaign in hopes of winning the promotion’s season championship and the accompanying $1 million bonus.

At 2021 PFL 3, former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag] (24-9-1) faces fellow Brazilian [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] (6-2) in the headlining bout, while 2019 women’s lightweight champion [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (8-0) faces promotional newcomer [autotag]Mariana Morais[/autotag] (16-10) in the night’s co-feature.

Follow along with our live results beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET.

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

  • Fabricio Werdum vs. Renan Ferreira
  • Kayla Harrison vs. Mariana Morais
  • Brandon Sayles vs. Mohammed Usman
  • Larissa Pacheco vs. Julija Pajic

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Bruno Cappelozza vs. Ante Delija
  • Cindy Dandois vs. Kaitlin Young
  • Genah Fabian vs. Laura Sanchez
  • Muhammed DeReese vs. Denis Goltsov

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5:30 p.m. ET)

  • Taylor Guardado vs. Helena Kolesnyk
  • Magomed Umalatov def. Kyron Bowen via knockout (punch) – Round 2, 0:07

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2021 PFL 3 predictions: Four unanimous picks on the main card

Check out our staff members’ picks for the 2021 PFL 3 main card, which includes Fabricio Werdum and Kayla Harrison.

Werdum
vs.
Ferreira		 Harrison
vs.
Morais		 Sayles
vs.
Usman		 Pacheco
vs.
Pajic
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2021: 57-36		 werdum2021
Werdum
(75%)		 harrison2021
Harrison
(94%)		 usman2021
Usman
(82%)		 pajic2021
Pajic
(55%)
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2021: 61-32		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2021: 59-34
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2021: 58-35		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2021: 56-37		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2021: 56-37		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2021: 55-38
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2021: 55-38		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2021: 54-39		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2021: 54-39
trophy copy 2020 Champion		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2021: 53-40
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2021: 51-42		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2021: 50-43		 werdum2021
Werdum		 harrison2021
Harrison		 usman2021
Usman		 pacheco2021
Pacheco
BetMGM
Betting Favorites		 werdum2021
Werdum -250		 harrison2021
Harrison -2000		 usman2021
Usman -375		 pacheco2021
Pacheco -500

The PFL is back for its third event of the 2021 regular season with heavyweights and women’s lightweights on the docket.

2021 PFL 3 takes place Thursday at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.

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

In the main event, former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag] (24-9-1) makes his PFL debut against [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] (6-2). Werdum is the favorite at -250 at BetMGM, and he’s one of four unanimous picks on the main card from our 12 editors, writers, videographers and radio hosts.

In the co-feature, 2019 women’s lightweight season winner [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (8-0) is back to go after her second $1 million prize. She’s the biggest favorite on the card by far – and biggest favorite we’ve seen in this space all year – against [autotag]Mariana Morais[/autotag] (16-10) at -2000. Not surprisingly, she’s a unanimous pick from our staff members.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Mohammed Usman[/autotag] (7-1), the younger brother of UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, takes his first step toward the $1 million heavyweight season prize when he takes on [autotag]Brandon Sayles[/autotag] (5-1). Usman is a -375 favorite and our third unanimous pick.

And to open the main card, [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] (13-4) takes on [autotag]Julija Pajic[/autotag] (3-0) in the women’s lightweight regular season. Pacheco is a 5-1 favorite and a 12-0 pick – though our readers are taking Pajic in an upset at a 55 percent clip.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Werdum (75 percent), Harrison (94 percent), Usman (82 percent) and Pajic (55 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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2021 PFL 3 weigh-in results: Fabricio Werdum official for PFL debut; Muhammed DeReese replaces Justin Willis

The weigh-ins are in the books for PFL’s this event of 2021, with heavyweights and women’s lightweights ready to kick off their season.

The weigh-ins are in the books for PFL’s this event of 2021, with heavyweights and women’s lightweights ready to kick off their season after hitting the scales at Wednesday’s official ceremony.

In the night’s main event, former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag] (24-9-1) makes his promotional debut when he takes on fellow Brazilian [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] (6-2) Both fighters made weight without issue, with Werdum at 241.4 pounds, and Ferreira heavier at 252 pounds.

In the night’s co-feature, 2019 PFL champion [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (8-0) looks to keep her career record perfect when she takes on Brazilian contender [autotag]Mariana Morais[/autotag] (16-10).

There was one late replacement on the day, as heavyweight alternate [autotag]Muhammed DeReese[/autotag] (8-2) stepped in for [autotag]Justin Willis[/autotag] (8-2), who was not medically cleared to compete. DeReese now faces [autotag]Denis Goltsov[/autotag] (25-6) at Thursday’s event, which airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+ from Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J.

The complete 2021 PFL 3 weigh-in results included:

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

  • Fabricio Werdum (241.4) vs. Renan Ferreira (252)
  • Kayla Harrison (155.2) vs. Mariana Morais (153)
  • Brandon Sayles (264.2) vs. Mohammed Usman (239)
  • Larissa Pacheco (155.2) vs. Julija Pajic (155.8)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

  • Bruno Cappelozza (234) vs. Ante Delija (233.2)
  • Cindy Dandois (153) vs. Kaitlin Young (155)
  • Genah Fabian (155.8) vs. Laura Sanchez (155.4)
  • Muhammed DeReese (257.6) vs. Denis Goltsov (240.4)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5:30 p.m. ET)

  • Taylor Guardado (154.6) vs. Helena Kolesnyk (155.2)
  • Kyron Bowen (170.8) vs. Magomed Umalatov (170.2)

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PFL 2021, Week 3: Fabricio Werdum’s debut headlines; Kayla Harrison featured in co-main

Fabricio Werdum and Kayla Harrison have their first fights of the season booked.

One of PFL’s biggest acquisitions has a date and opponent for his debut.

Former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Fabricio Werdum[/autotag] is set to headline PFL 2021, Week 3 against [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] on May 6. The bout is part of the heavyweight season that will determine which fighters make it to the playoffs to compete for the $1 million prize and title.

Additionally, 2019 PFL women’s lightweight champion [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] returns to action in the co-main event as the two-time Olympic gold medalist takes on [autotag]Mariana Morais[/autotag].

PFL 3 takes place at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. The event will air on ESPN2 following prelims on ESPN+. Further regular season events will follow on June 10, 17, and 25.

[lawrence-related id=592122,590802]

Werdum (24-9-1) last fought in July, submitting Alexander Gustafsson with a first-round arm-bar at UFC on ESPN 14. The win closed out his contract with the UFC. He tested free agency and signed with PFL months later in November. Werdum is 1-1 since his return from a 10-month U.S. Anti-Doping Agency suspension.

His opponent, Ferreira (6-2), is coming off a submission win in August 2019 at LFA 74. The 31-year-old is 4-1 in his past five bouts.

Meanwhile, PFL champ Harrison (8-0) looks keep her unbeaten run in MMA. She was last in action last November when she picked up a TKO win over Courtney King at Invicta FC 43. Despite being under contract with PFL, the organization allowed her to compete outside of the promotion as PFL’s 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic.

Facing Harrison, Morais (16-10) looks to extend her current wining streak to four in a row. Morais holds three consecutive wins under the Shooto banner. She competed twice in 2020, fighting both bouts in the same night back in March.

Below is the full card for PFL 3:

MAIN CARD (ESPN 2):

  • Fabricio Werdum vs. Renan Ferreira
  • Kayla Harrison vs. Mariana Morais
  • Ali Isaev vs. Hatef Moeil
  • Genah Fabian vs. Laura Sanchez

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+):

  • Mohammed Usman vs Brandon Sayles
  • Denis Goltsov vs. Justin Willis
  • Larissa Pacheco vs. Julija Pajic
  • Ante Delija vs. Bruno Cappelozza
  • Cindy Dandois vs. Kaitlin Young
  • Olena Kolesnyk vs. Taylor Guardado

[jwplayer HVM7KLHJ-FLu19iir]