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Video: Was recent criticism of Kayla Harrison’s PFL performance warranted?

BAD MMA News — Sat, 14 May 2022 17:23:57 +0000

Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison started off the 2022 season in the win column, but it wasn’t the one-sided affair many expected. While Harrison clearly won the fight, her dominance in the past has created higher expectations from the gold medal-winning Olympic judoka. Her opponent, Marina Mokhnatkina brought her sambo base into the cage in Arlington, Texas to challenge Harrison, and gave the champion a better fight than most of her opponents in the past could claim

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Video: Was recent criticism of Kayla Harrison’s PFL performance warranted? – MMA Junkie

Ray Sefo: Anthony Pettis, Rory MacDonald’s adjustments evident after 2021 disappointment

BAD MMA News — Wed, 11 May 2022 18:32:45 +0000

ARLINGTON, Texas – There were high expectations in 2021 when the PFL brought in two high-profile free agents. Former Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald and ex-UFC and WEC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis joined the promotion and were instantly frontrunners to win their seasons – and the $1 million prize that comes with each division’s title. But it was far from smooth sailing for the two. Pettis lost both his fights in the regular season and missed the four-man playoffs.

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Ray Sefo: Anthony Pettis, Rory MacDonald’s adjustments evident after 2021 disappointment – MMA Junkie

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, May 10: Carla Esparza, Charles Oliveira, Ryan Bader move up P4P list

BAD MMA News — Wed, 11 May 2022 04:05:35 +0000

The USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie men’s and women’s pound-for-pound rankings saw major movement coming out of a weekend of UFC, Bellator and PFL action. At UFC 274, Charles Oliveira – after losing his championship belt over a half-pound miss at weigh-ins – solidified his status as the best lightweight on the planet with a first-round submission of Justin Gaethje in the night’s main event. In the co-headliner, Carla Esparza became a two-time UFC strawweight champion after earning a split decision from Rose Namajunas in a lackluster fight – but it was a win no less for “Cookie Monster.” One day earlier at Bellator 280, heavyweight champion Ryan Bader grinded out a clean-sweep unanimous decision win over Cheick Kongo. And at 2022 PFL 3, Kayla Harrison made her season debut with a ho-hum performance ( “utter dog crap” in her own words ) that led to a unanimous decision over Marina Mokhnatkina

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, May 10: Carla Esparza, Charles Oliveira, Ryan Bader move up P4P list – MMA Junkie

Genah Fabian explains bittersweet victory over Julia Budd

BAD MMA News — Tue, 10 May 2022 01:51:51 +0000

ARLINGTON, Texas – Even though Genah Fabian picked up the biggest win of her career Friday, she’s paying the consequences in the standings. Fabian (5-2) beat former Bellator women’s featherweight champion Julia Budd (16-4), who was making her highly anticipated promotional debut at the PFL’s third event of the season, with a unanimous decision. But since Fabian missed weight, she has -1 points in the standings – and Budd got an automatic 3 points even though she lost the fight. “The win will be tarnished by the fact that I missed weight,” Fabian said.

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Genah Fabian explains bittersweet victory over Julia Budd – MMA Junkie

Larissa Pacheco thinks third time will be the charm against Kayla Harrison

BAD MMA News — Mon, 09 May 2022 14:10:40 +0000

ARLINGTON, Texas – Larissa Pacheco has been in there with two-time PFL women’s lightweight winner Kayla Harrison, and twice she’s come up short. But after her quick win over Zamzagul Fayzallanova (7-2) on Friday, Pacheco (16-4) thinks she may have progressed to the point she finally can give Harrison some fits. “She’s the champ. I’ve got to beat her to be the champ.

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Larissa Pacheco thinks third time will be the charm against Kayla Harrison – MMA Junkie

Carlos Leal reacts to upset victory over two-time PFL champion Ray Cooper III

BAD MMA News — Mon, 09 May 2022 12:58:45 +0000

ARLINGTON, Texas – Even after Ray Cooper III missed weight for his welterweight PFL season opener, very few were counting on Carlos Leal to beat him. Cooper (24-8-1) came in with back-to-back PFL welterweight titles, and Leal (17-3) was a short-notice replacement. But Leal largely dominated Cooper with scores of 30-26, 30-27 and 29-27 to burst onto the PFL scene. “I wanted to come in and have a quick night out with him, but we’re talking about the two-time champion. This is no easy task for anyone. I’m just happy with my performance,” Leal said after his win in Arlington, Texas.

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Carlos Leal reacts to upset victory over two-time PFL champion Ray Cooper III – MMA Junkie

Rory MacDonald: ‘I’m here to finish everyone, and that’s what I plan to do’

BAD MMA News — Sat, 07 May 2022 21:19:55 +0000

ARLINGTON, Texas – Rory MacDonald ’s move to the PFL in 2021 didn’t go the way he had planned it, but he’s got redemption on his mind this year. In 2021, after making the move from Bellator, where he had been a welterweight champion, MacDonald started out strong with a first-round submission of Curtis Millender. But he dropped a split decision to Gleison Tibau in his second regular season fight, then lost a decision to eventual two-time champ Ray Cooper III in the playoff semifinals. On Friday, MacDonald (23-8-1) again started out a season strong with a quick first-round finish of Brett Cooper (28-16) with a rear-naked choke at the PFL’s third regular season event in Arlington, Texas. MacDonald said he’s reenergized after a move from Sanford MMA in South Florida to train with former UFC and Strikeforce fighter Tim Kennedy. “I’ve definitely lost interest in fighting (in the past),” MacDonald said in his post-fight news conference in Arlington, Texas.

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Rory MacDonald: ‘I’m here to finish everyone, and that’s what I plan to do’ – MMA Junkie

Anthony Pettis: This version of ‘Showtime’ is the one that should’ve been seen in 2021

BAD MMA News — Sat, 07 May 2022 18:44:26 +0000

ARLINGTON, Texas – Anthony Pettis is confident the version of himself on display to open his 2022 PFL season is the real deal – and not the one who fizzled out quickly in his first PFL season in 2021. Pettis (25-12) forced Myles Price (11-8) to tap to a first-round mounted triangle choke Friday at the PFL’s third event of the regular season. In 2021, he lost both his fights

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Anthony Pettis: This version of ‘Showtime’ is the one that should’ve been seen in 2021 – MMA Junkie

Kayla Harrison pushes Cyborg talk to side, guarantees third PFL title while quoting Ben Franklin

BAD MMA News — Sat, 07 May 2022 17:34:03 +0000

ARLINGTON, Texas – It’s been a while since Kayla Harrison had to put in a full and go home without a finish, but the PFL’s biggest star isn’t worried. In fact, Harrison seems as confident as ever that another PFL title and $1 million payday is in her future. Harrison (13-0) outworked Marina Mokhnatkina (6-3) for a unanimous decision in the 2022 PFL Week 3 main event Friday in Arlington, Texas. Harrison got 3 points in the standings for the win. In the 2021 regular season, both her wins were finishes, which gave her 12 points for an easy trip to the postseason. Friday, Larisssa Pacheco was the only women’s lightweight on the bill to get a finish and sits atop the standings with 6 points

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Kayla Harrison pushes Cyborg talk to side, guarantees third PFL title while quoting Ben Franklin – MMA Junkie

2022 PFL 3: Best photos from Arlington

BAD MMA News — Sat, 07 May 2022 16:18:38 +0000

Check out these photos from 2022 PFL 3 which took place at Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photos courtesy of Cooper Neill, PFL)

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2022 PFL 3: Best photos from Arlington – MMA Junkie