PhotoCred: MMA Weekly
Kayla Harrison re-signs with PFL despite offers from Bellator and UFC
Reigning two-time women’s lightweight champion Kayla Harrison has re-signed with the PFL despite offers from the UFC and Bellator MMA.
Two-time and reigning PFL women’s lightweight champion Kayla Harrison is returning to the PFL after a long free agency period that was filled with a few twists and turns, although the promotion always remained confident. ESPN’s Marc Raimondi reported on Tuesday that Harrison will return to the PFL despite receiving a “lucrative” offer from Bellator MMA, and also receiving an offer from the UFC.
According to the report from ESPN, PFL was able to match any offer that was made to Kayla Harrison and they did so when Bellator MMA made their lucrative offer. There were talks that Harrison would sign with Bellator and then potentially face Cris Cyborg in April, but those plans were put to an end when PFL matched the deal. The UFC’s offer was reportedly not as big as the offer that was eventually agreed to.
Since making the move to compete in professional MMA, Kayla Harrison has fought for the PFL through the majority of her career with the promotion, besides a one-fight stint in Invicta FC. The two-time PFL women’s lightweight champion is also a two-time Olympic champion having won gold medals in 2012 and 2016.
Last season, Harrison captured her second PFL women’s lightweight title when she defeated Taylor Guardado by second-round submission in October. She also won the 2019 women’s lightweight title, by defeating Larissa Pacheco by unanimous decision. In her 12 career professional fights, the American Top Team product has won 5 of her fights by knockout, 5 of them by submission, and 2 by decision.
With her return to the PFL set, Harrison will have an opportunity to win the championship for a third consecutive season, and the promotion will get one of their biggest, if not their biggest, superstars back on their roster. The idea of Harrison facing Cyborg will always have fans calling for that matchup, but under the PFL format, Harrison once again has an opportunity to defend her title and win another $1 million grand prize for winning the tournament. Keeping a talent like Harison could also open the door for potential new free agents to join the PFL if their willing to make the offers.
