Genah Fabian will face the toughest test of her career in Kayla Harrison at 2021 PFL Playoffs 2.
The pair were originally set to meet in 2019, but due to complications with Fabian’s weight cut, she withdrew from the bout. Now set to meet with a shot at the 2021 season finals and $1 million on the line, Fabian ensures she’s ready for the task at hand.
“Everyone’s unbeatable until they’re beaten,” Fabian said about her chances at winning during a pre-fight news conference call. “I believe that I’m the star. I’ve got the size, I’ve got the skillset to do so come Thursday night.”
Training at New Zealnd’s famed City Kickboxing along with many other high-level, champion-caliber fighters, Fabian credits her team and coaches for preparing her through repeated drills for a dominant grappler. Being ready for takedowns isn’t Fabian’s only source of confidence, however.
She believes that her style as a striker will present problems for Harrison, as she has continued to become more comfortable inside the cage during the time she was originally set to meet her undefeated opponent.
“There’s no doubt that where I want to keep it is on the feet, and I find my striking, but I’m also well-versed in many different areas, as well, that I haven’t been able to showcase yet because I haven’t needed to,” Fabian explained. “As I get my comfortability in the cage, I know that I’m just getting more and more settled and comfortable in there, and I haven’t even been able to show a different range of styles.
“So that’s motivating and exciting to me, and it plays into my hand. But I have no surprises really in terms of what I will be trying to do and what I’ll be trying to do that night.”
Fabian defeated Laura Sanchez by unanimous decision and Julija Pajic by second-round TKO during the 2021 PFL regular season, setting up the semifinal matchup against Harrison, who won both of her regular-season fights by first-round stoppages. Fabian isn’t intimidated by Harrison’s record or her abilities inside the cage, though. She believes her own combination of size and striking along with a solid strategy on fight night will be enough to accomplish a major upset victory.
“I trust in my work and my coaches and the gameplan that they’ve devised,” Fabian said. “We’ve got a team of scientists, if you will, behind things. I just trust in the work that they’ve put me through the game plan and obviously my skill set and all my hard work that I’ve put not just into this particular camp, but over the years and over the last couple of years.”
2021 PFL Playoffs 2 takes place on Thursday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The main card airs on ESPN and following prelims on ESPN+.
