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The third and final opening night of the PFL 2022 season is here, and the main card features some of biggest stars in the league.
Kayla Harrison and the women’s lightweight division step into the cage on Friday (6 p.m. ET on ESPN+). Harrison, who re-signed with the PFL in the offseason, main events the fight night and hopes to be on her way to securing a third straight $1 million-dollar check in 2022. However, a new competitor has joined Harrison’s division, which will definitely add to the drama. Julia Budd is a former Bellator featherweight champion who boasts a 16-3 record with the losses coming against three very familiar names: Cris Cyborg, Amanda Nunes and Ronda Rousey. Budd opens up her season against PFL veteran Genah Fabian.
For two other MMA standouts, redemption is the goal. Welterweight Rory MacDonald and lightweight Anthony Pettis failed to reach expectations in 2021 and the pressure will be on to live up to the hype in 2022. Defending welterweight champion Ray Cooper III also begins his journey back to the title fight this week.
ESPN betting analyst Ian Parker breaks down each fight.
Kayla Harrison vs Marina Mokhnatkina
The queen has returned to her kingdom. Harrison, enjoying the benefits of her new contract, will look to continue where she left off. On opening night, it really doesn’t come down to if Kayla is going to win, it is more about how. I have nothing against the skill and toughness of Mokhnatkina, who does own prior wins in Bellator and the PFL, but Harrison is just a different level of athlete and she continues to show it.
I expect this fight to end in typical Harrison fashion: inside Round 1 by either submission or TKO.
Prediction: Harrison by TKO.
Ray Cooper III vs Carlos Leal
Reigning champion Cooper will be looking for a repeat performance as he welcomes Challenger Series and LFA vet Leal to the PFL. After fighting two…
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Source : espn
