Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison, who is anxiously awaiting word on a future fight, acknowledges that she may not compete this year due to limited options and yet remains patient and prepared for what comes next.
Kayla Harrison, two-time PFL champion, is eagerly seeking her next fight, despite her recent professional loss in a five-round decision to Larissa Pacheco this past November. However, with the PFL poised to launch the 2023 playoffs in August and with only one more card slated for the November finals, her hopes of competing again before the year ends are wavering. Harrison awaits official confirmation on her eligibility for the year-end event.
“My timing in MMA is pretty brutal, not going to lie,” disclosed Harrison. In a challenging turn of events, she finds herself somewhat trapped, a predicament she contends is primarily not of her doing. Harrison relies heavily on her manager, Ali Abdelaziz, to sort through these issues on her behalf while she continually trains and primes herself for her next fight. Nevertheless, the current situation has forced her to exercise unparalleled patience, as the reins to her fate are not in her hands.
There was a glimmer of hope for Harrison when it seemed she might lock horns with Cris Cyborg, a fight she’s been gunning for over the years. However, this prospect was dashed when Cyborg recently signed a new deal with Bellator MMA, putting their potential face-off on hold for now. While there are rumors of a possible partnership between the PFL and Bellator, for now, Cyborg remains unreachable, leaving Harrison noticeably frustrated.
Despite her predicament, Harrison maintains a positive outlook and has no ill feelings toward the PFL. She acknowledges the business aspect of the sport, acknowledging that things inevitably took a turn after she lost a fight. She is highly optimistic that the much-anticipated fight with Cyborg will still happen, but as of now, she cannot confirm anything. With the year coming to a close and another year seeming likely to roll by without having a fight, Harrison admits the reality is hard to accept. However, she remains patient and hopeful, training and preparing for when the time is right to step back into the ring.