Kayla Harrison’s continued dominance has gotten the attention of one of the greatest female fighters in the sport.
After Harrison (11-0) picked up a first-round TKO of Genah Fabian in the main event of 2021 PFL Playoffs 2, former UFC featherweight champion and current Bellator 145-pound champion Cris Cyborg (24-2 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) expressed interest in a matchup with her.
16 years I’ve been collecting trophies. #GrandSlamChampion pic.twitter.com/XzDgpgZ8Om
— @CrisCyborg.Com (@criscyborg) August 20, 2021
Harrison immediately scoffed at Cyborg’s callout in the post-fight press conference, but despite the experience difference, the reigning PFL lightweight champion has no doubt she’s headed for greatness herself.
She thinks Cyborg issuing her a challenge was just a way to get people talking about her, and Harrison has no issues with it.
“I think it’s a compliment,” Harrison told MMA Junkie. “I don’t really care if people think, ‘How dare I believe I can beat her?’ Do you guys really think I’m in here to come up short? Do you think I’m here to be second best? Of course I think I can beat her. Of course I want to beat her. Of course I’m going to tell myself over and over again that I can beat her because I believe that, and that’s what I want eventually. That’s what I’m headed toward.
“So I think it’s great that she’s talking about me. I think it’s great she’s watching me. I think she knows, too. I think she also likes to have her name in the headlines and likes to stay in the mix and stay relevant, and that’s fine. You can ride my coattails – I don’t care.”
With Harrison’s contract coming to an end after the completion of the 2021 PFL season, a future matchup with Cyborg may not be beyond the realm of possibility. But before she enters free agency, the two-time judo Olympic gold medalist will look to once again capture a $1 million prize when she faces Taylor Guardado in the Oct. 27 final at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
