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For perhaps the first time ever in the modern era of mixed martial arts, the oft-forgotten women’s lightweight division will take center stage this summer when the Professional Fighters League kicks off its second season on May 9 with a 155-pound all-female tournament centered around two-time Olympic gold medalist judoka Kayla Harrison.


Harrison headlines an eight-woman field that also features former Invicta FC and Strikeforce champion Sarah Kaufman, along with UFC veteran Larissa Pacheco. Similar to PFL’s inaugural season, the competitors will compete in an eight-month, multi-stage tournament that culminates with a championship extravaganza on New Year’s Eve where $1 million will be up for grabs for the winners of each weight class. And for Harrison, a blue-chip prospect who has rattled off three consecutive stoppage victories to begin her MMA career, the setup to what may become a life-changing 2019 campaign couldn’t be more perfect.


“This is the opportunity of a lifetime,” Harrison told MMA Fighting. “Not only when you talk about money-wise, but career-wise.


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