PFL women’s lightweight tournament includes Kayla Harrison, Sarah Kaufman

The field has been set for the Professional Fighters League’s first female roster.

Including the previously announced Kayla Harrison, former Invicta FC and Strikeforce champion Sarah Kaufman is among eight notables who have been selected to compete in the PFL’s upcoming 2019 women’s lightweight season, the league announced Friday following an initial report by ESPN.

Joining Harrison and Kaufman are New Zealand Muay Thai world champion Genah Fabian (1-0), Canadian kickboxer Bobbi-Jo Dalziel (4-0), Russian Muay Thai fighter Svetlana Khautova (2-0), Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Roberta Samad (4-1), UFC and Ultimate Fighter veteran Larissa Pacheco (11-2), and American Morgan Freir (4-1).

It’s worth noting that Harrison, Fabian, Dalziel, Khautova, Samad, Frier have all competed at 155 pounds or higher in the past. Kaufman and Pacheco have spent the majority of their careers at bantamweight.

Harrison made her pro debut with the PFL last year, winning her first three fights by knockout or submission. The 28-year-old emerged as a top MMA prospect following an illustrious judo career that included two Olympic gold medals.

Kaufman (20-4, 1 NC) is by far the most experienced member of the PFL lightweight roster, having fought for several major promotions including the UFC. She is on a three-fight winning streak, having most recently defeated Katharina Lehner via third-round submission to capture a vacant Invicta bantamweight title last May.

The lightweight women’s roster joins five other divisions that will compete in a regular season, playoffs, and year-end championship for a $1,000,000 prize and the right to be named a 2019 PFL champion.