PFL’s Kayla Harrison was always aware of how restricted her alternatives were in the women’s lightweight class.
She has long thought of making a more permanent shift to 145 pounds, where there are significantly more experienced opponents, for this reason. She was supposed to fight at featherweight on the next PFL Championship show on November 24, but Aspen Ladd, a UFC veteran, abruptly took Julia Budd’s spot.
What Is Kayla Harrison’s Toughest Challenge?
Harrison will now compete at a catchweight of 150 pounds. Actually, though, it didn’t really matter who the opponent was.
“I don’t want to say I expected this, but it doesn’t matter,” Harrison told MMA Fighting about her change of opponents. “I focus on what I can control. I’m just looking for a fight, I don’t care who it is.
Harrison’s comeback occurs nearly precisely a year following her career’s first defeat—a decision loss to the current PFL champion, Larissa Pacheco. Given that Harrison had previously defeated Pacheco twice, it appeared that a rematch would occur. However, Pacheco returned to the PFL tournament for the whole season at 145 pounds because the women’s lightweight class was essentially eliminated by the promotion.
Harrison understands that in order to compete in another PFL season, she would have to drastically alter her diet and training regimen four times a year in order to drop down to featherweight. She does, however, appear prepared to move into Featherweight in the near future.
Given that Harrison is a two-time Olympic gold medallist in judo and accepts battles against everyone, her weight class may be the biggest obstacle for her. That might include a PFL rematch with Pacheco or even a much-anticipated bout with Bellator champion Cris Cyborg.
It may possibly involve Harrison competing in the UFC in the future, but it would need Harrison to drop to bantamweight since the organization has essentially closed down the final vestiges of a 145-pound class that has been virtually dormant.
