Kayla Harrison I'm chasing history.
UFC 300 saw Harrison step into the Octagon after a successful run at lightweight in the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Not only was the former two-time champion making her UFC debut at the historic event, she also made her debut at 135 pounds by defeating a former division champion. Holly Holmdominating the fight and winning via rear-naked choke in the second round (watch highlights).
Harrison, 33, was arguably the PFL's biggest and most developed superstar, especially as a home-grown fighter. Her departure came as a surprise, marking the first notable crossover from the PFL to the UFC. So when asked about the move, PFL founder Don Davisrecently described Harrison as a “follower in need of approval” in the basketball world. LeBron James and Kevin DurantThe two-time Olympic gold medallist in judo broke her silence about the comments last weekend (Friday, May 31, 2024).
“Honestly, I'm living my best life,” Harrison said. The Ariel Helwani Show“I take a lot of pride in what I've built with PFL. I've carried the company for a long time and I have strong shoulders and I can handle it. But I don't have time for all that nonsense. Every day I get to wake up, go to the gym and train with people that I respect, admire and look up to. I'm chasing a dream. When I started in MMA, my goal wasn't to make a ton of money. My goal wasn't to be rich and famous, it was to become a UFC champion.
“That's why I'm here and that's what I want to do. If someone has a problem with that, then FUCK them,” she concluded.
As Harrison (17-1) continues to develop as a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, he is one of the all-time greats and the current Bellator featherweight champion. Cris “Cyborg” JustinoUnfortunately, despite the best efforts of Harrison and company, the bout never came to fruition in either Bellator or the PFL.
Far beyond the concept of a long-awaited showdown, Harrison has his sights set solely on UFC gold and bringing back an all-time great.
“I've tried to fight Cyborg a few times,” Harrison said. “I'm not going to bet my career on whether or not Cyborg would say yes to me. I don't need Cyborg anymore. I'm going to carry on, I'm going to be great, I'm going to win a UFC title, I'm going to tempt Amanda [Nunes] I'm going to go back and beat the crap out of Amanda and then I'll be the greatest of all time.”
Harrison added that she has been dealing with a hand injury since her win over Holm and will not be able to return at UFC 303 this month (Saturday, June 29, 2024). She is now hoping to return around October.
