The Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced that two-time Olympic champion Kayla Harrison will be competing in their 2018 Championship event on December 31 at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden against veteran mixed martial artist Moriel Charneski. The League’s Season Finale will feature six world championship bouts, a first in MMA history. The fighters will provide a preview of what MMA fans can expect to see when the women’s lightweight division becomes a part of the 2019 PFL Season.
Harrison (2-0) will be making her third professional start and, after scoring a pair of stoppage wins, will be looking to keep her record clean as she positions herself as one of the most exciting new fighters in the sport. Standing in her way is Charneski, a veteran of seven professional MMA bouts and has finished each of her opponents in her three victories. Charneski (3-4) is looking to make a name for herself in MMA and has the opportunity of a lifetime in her bout with Harrison.
The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden will host the 2018 PFL Championship which will be headlined by welterweight breakout star Ray Cooper III who will duel with Magomed Magomedkerimov for the PFL title and the $1 million prize that comes along with it.
Heavyweights Philipe Lins and Josh Copeland will face off in a battle of heavy hitters while PFL Season 1 standout Vinny Magalhaes, who never saw a second frame during his 4-0 run to the final, will face PFL broadcaster and light heavyweight finalist Sean O’Connell in an exciting matchup.
Lightweights Natan Schulte and Rashid Magomedov will compete in a showdown of teammates from the famed American Top Team. They will have to put their friendship aside because only one can walk away with the belt and the $1 million.
The top two featherweight seeds Steven Siler and Lance Palmer have been on a collision course all season and will meet in the championship fight. It will be a rematch from last November when Palmer notched a decision win over Siler in a hard-fought scrap.
In the first bout of the evening Abus Magomedov will take on Louis Taylor in the middleweight championship. Magomedov was impressive and rarely tested in his run to achieving the top-seed. Taylor, who also went unbeaten this season, will be looking to upend the favorite in his quest for PFL gold.
Tickets for the 2018 PFL Championship are available now and can be purchased at TicketMaster.com or PFLmma.com.
Official Card:
Welterweight Championship
Ray Cooper III (1) vs. Magomed Magomedkerimov (3)
Heavyweight Championship
Philipe Lins (3) vs. Josh Copeland (8)
Light Heavyweight Championship
Vinny Magalhaes (1) vs. Sean O’Connell (6)
Lightweight Feature Bout
Kayla Harrison vs. Moriel Charneski
Lightweight Championship
Natan Schulte (1) vs. Rashid Magomedov (7)
Featherweight Championship
Steven Siler (1) vs. Lance Palmer (2)
Middleweight Championship
Abus Magomedov (1) vs. Louis Taylor (2)
