Kayla Harrison has once again sparked the flames of competition by issuing a direct challenge to her long-time adversary Cris Cyborg. In response, Bellator’s Cyborg poked fun at Harrison.
Harrison is the PFL women’s lightweight competition champion and holder for the years 2019 and 2021.
In a lightweight match in the PFL back in November 2022, she lost to Larissa Pacheco by unanimous decision. This was the first loss of her MMA career. She had already defeated Pacheco twice in 2019 by unanimous decision.
De 0 a 10, que nota esse quedão da Kayla Harrison merece? 🤔👀#PFLnoCombate #PFLWorldChampionships pic.twitter.com/lNsiUcL26O
— Combate (@combate) November 25, 2023
Following the upset, fans eagerly awaited Harrison’s return to the PFL arena. The highly anticipated comeback unfolded at the recent PFL 10 event held on November 24, 2023.
Harrison faced off against former UFC competitor Aspen Ladd in a 150-pound catchweight bout, securing a commanding unanimous decision victory.
Post her remarkable win against Ladd, Kayla Harrison turned her attention to compete against the Brazilian-American martial arts sensation Cris Cyborg. Harrison hinted at the recent acquisition of Bellator MMA by PFL, expressing her eagerness to test herself against Cyborg. She is the longstanding Bellator women’s featherweight champion.
Even though Harrison did not take her name, it was clear who she was talking about. She stated: “I’m excited PFL just acquired Bellator. I heard there’s a girl [Cyborg] in Bellator, who thinks she’s a bad b**ch. Why don’t we find out?”
This butterfly sweep was money for Ladd every time she got the hook in. pic.twitter.com/sHht8A2MvJ
— Blaine Henry (@BlaineHenryTFL) November 25, 2023
Responding to Harrison’s call-out, Cyborg took to X to seemingly critique Harrison’s choice of words. The 38-year-old former Invicta FC, Strikeforce, and UFC women’s featherweight champion emphasized her stance on social media:
“I’m a women. Not a girl. Women don’t refer to themselves as b**ch. JudoKayla.Com You basic.”
The acquisition of Bellator MMA by PFL in 2023 has stirred the pot, bringing the much-desired Cyborg vs. Harrison matchup closer to reality. With the merger, speculations are rife that the dream matchup could materialize in 2024.
PFL founder Donn Davis hinted at Bellator competitors participating in PFL events, fueling expectations of Cyborg stepping into the PFL cage soon.
Speaking on The MMA Hour, Kayla Harrison expressed her enthusiasm for PFL’s incorporation of Bellator. She highlighted the potential for thrilling matchups between stars from both organizations, hinting at an exciting landscape awaiting fans in the realm of mixed martial arts.