Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Sarah Kaufman makes a case to headline the PFL 2019 finale.
Sarah Kaufman says a fight vs. Kayla Harrison is the biggest thing PFL has going for them this season.
Kaufman (21-4) is expected to meet Olympic judoka Harrison (5-0) in the finals of the PFL women’s lightweight playoffs. Both women, however, still need to earn their place in the finals. If it does materialize, Kaufman believes a fight vs. Harrison deserves to headline the PFL finale.
“If it’s both of us in the finals, we should honestly almost headline — I think — the show. I really think we’re the most talked about in the PFL,” Kaufman told Kajan Johnson and Shakiel Mahjouri on the Pull No Punches podcast, “Everyone else is great, of course, but that hype has been there. It would make it sense for us to headline it.”
Kaufman is beginning to adjust to her new 155-pound weight class, but it has not been so easy for everyone. PFL has been rife with missed weights this season and Kaufman experienced it firsthand. Her fight with Roberta Paim Samad was cancelled after Samad missed weight.
“Making weight is kind of one of the easiest ways to be professional,” Kaufman argued, noting the word “Professional” is in the promotion’s name. “It’s hard if you’re cutting a huge amount or whatever. As a girl, the whole ‘oh I got my period’ is the worst [excuse]. I don’t care if you did. You get it every month, it’s not really a surprise — granted when you’re leaner it is a little more sporadic. At the same time, you know it’s going to happen. If you’re that heavy, maybe you’re just too heavy.”
Kaufman, who was guaranteed a place in the playoffs, opted to forego a fight with Samad. Kaufman was awarded a complimentary three points and received her full purse. The Canadian fighter admitted she was worried about backlash from the PFL president Ray Sefo and the entire organization.
“I was worried about that. This is why it doesn’t make sense to fight, but I also want the company and the PFL organization to be happy with me. That relationship is very important to me,” she shared. Fortunately, she and Sefo were on the same page. “He was like, ‘people should be professional. If I were you I wouldn’t take the fight. You’re getting your money, you’re guaranteed in the playoffs.’ I said, ‘as long as you’re not mad at me that’s what I should do.’”
Kaufman fights Larissa Pacheco at PFL 7 on Oct. 11. Harrison will fight Genah Fabian on the same card.