All fighters for the Professional Fighter’s League season 1 tournament made weight. The finalists will face off New Year’s Eve at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden with the winner’s walking away with $1 million and a belt in their weight class. The only non-tournament match is the women’s lightweight bout.
The tournament kicked off on June 7 of this year at the same venue. Throughout the year, fighters earned points with wins. More points were awarded to early finishes. During the semi-finals, fights went to two rounds and if a draw occurred, judges picked a fighter to advance to the finals.
On Saturday, select fighters participated in open workouts where they talked about the upcoming fights.
PFL 11
The fighters kept their demeanors respectful to one another at the weigh-ins. Other than some scowls to one another, there was no pushing, shoving, or pro wrestling type of behavior.
One of the fighters even had some New Year’s Eve fun. Sean O’Connell (who is also a commentator for the promotion) faces Vinny Magalhaes in the light heavyweight tournament finale. O’Connell is popular for his unique weigh-in hi-jinks. Previous ones have included him doing Rock, Paper, Scissors, offering his opponent flowers, and bopping his opponent on the nose with his finger. For this one, he wore a colorful top hat, 2019 party eyeglasses and blew a noisemaker. He also gave his opponent the same items. During the weigh-in, a member of his team threw confetti in the air.
The fight card will also showcase Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison in her third professional MMA fight. She is 2-0, with both victories coming by stoppage. Her opponent for PFL 11 is Moriel Charneski, who is 3-4. Charneski has never been finished. Harrison said that the next season of PFL will include a women’s lightweight division which she will participate in.
Weigh-In Results
Middleweight: Abus Magomedov 184) vs. Louis Taylor (183.6)
Abus Magomedov (left) and Louis Taylor (right). Photo courtesy of Andrew Benjamin
Featherweight: Steve Siler (144.8) vs. Lance Palmer (144.4)
Steven Siler (left) and Lance Palmer (right).Photo courtesy of Andrew Benjamin
Women’s Lightweight: Kayla Harrison (155.2) vs. Moriel Charneski (155)
Kayla Harrison (left) and Moriel Charneski (right). Photo courtesy of Andrew Benjamin
Lightheavyweight: Vinny Magalhaes (204.2) vs. Sean O’Connell (204.2)
Vinny Magalhaes. Photo courtesy of Andrew BenjaminSean O’Connell. Photo courtesy of Andrew BenjaminIt wouldn’t be a Sean O’Connell weigh-in without some crazy antics. Photo courtesy of Andrew Benjamin
Heavyweight: Philipe Lins (234.8) vs. Josh Copeland (257)
Photo courtesy of Andrew BenjaminPhilipe Lins (left) and Josh Copeland (right). Photo courtesy of Andrew Benjamin
Welterweight: Ray Cooper III (169.6) vs. Magomed Magomedkerimov (169.8)
Ray Cooper (left) and Magomed Magomedkerimov (right). Photo courtesy of Andrew Benjamin
PFL 11 airs live on NBCSN December 31 at 7 p.m. EST.
In a recent episode of the Couch Warrior Podcast, host Mike welcomed Charalampos Grigoriou, who recently won a contract during season 7 of Dana White's Contender Series after knocking out Cameron Smotherman one minute into the fight. The conversation delved into Grigoriou's martial arts journey, his feelings on representing Cyprus and Greece, and future plans.
