PFL has met a huge loss this month, with UFC CEO Dana White confirming that Kayla Harrison finally joined his promotion. PFL was originally planning to set her up against Bellator champ Cris Cyborg, but with Harrison now out of its roster, the company just lost a huge main event.
After PFL’s acquisition of Bellator, the talks about the possibility of the Cyborg vs. Harrison reignited. The company said that the plan was to put Cyborg against Larissa Pacheco first and have Harrison afterward. The company intended to make PPV fights for the female fighters, translating to two huge separate events. However, it was snapped by UFC this week, with its CEO announcing Harrison’s debut at UFC 300, where she will face Holly Holm. Realizing just what happened, PFL knows what it means for their plans.
“We’re disappointed that fight between Cyborg and Kayla did not happen,” PFL CEO Peter Murray said this Wednesday at the PFL vs. Bellator press conference. “Kayla chose not to make it happen and move on to her next chapter.
“We had the fight that matters. The fight that matters most. Candidly, the biggest fight in women’s sports, in MMA. Ultimately, Kayla made a decision to move on. We wanted to make that fight, but once again, we’re going to continue building what we’re building. We have a great PFLW roster, and in respect to contract details, it’s all good…”
Despite this, the company is supportive of Harrison’s decision to move, adding it is still confident of the fights its own female talents can offer. That includes Cyborg and Pachecho.
“Listen, we wish Kayla well,” Murray said. “She’s a two-time champion with us, women’s 155, and she’s moving on to UFC. She’s going to be on a historic card, which I believe is a testament to the level and quality of talent in the PFL. We wish her well.
“It’s going to be interesting to see Kayla fighting in the 135 division, but [we wish] nothing but the best, nothing but love. We’ll continue to be excited about supporting women in the sport. We have some of the best women on the planet in combat sports.
“You think about Larissa Pacheco — Larissa, a two-time PFL champion, women’s 155 in 2022 and she won the 145 championship this past year. So she holds two belts, two different weight classes. She obviously defeated Kayla in 2022 in that championship. She’s ready. She wants Cyborg, I know that for a fact.”
