MMA News

Category: PFL

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is a mixed martial arts organization founded in 2018. It is the first major MMA promotion to feature a regular season, post-season and championship.

  • Marc Diakiese Explains ‘Relief’ Switching From UFC To PFL: ‘The Way They Treated Me As A Fighter…’

    Marc Diakiese Explains ‘Relief’ Switching From UFC To PFL: ‘The Way They Treated Me As A Fighter…’

    Former UFC lightweight Marc Diakiese is one of the latest fighters to make the switch over from the UFC to the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

    He leaves behind a seven-year stint in the promotion, a run that saw him compete 15 times inside the Octagon.

    His PFL signing was announced at the recent PFL Europe event in Newcastle and his debut fight has already been made official.

    “Bonecrusher” will compete in a battle of Brit strikers when he faces Tim Wilde in London on September 14 in his Bellator Champions Series debut.

    Diakiese has now spoken more about his decision to make the switch in order to start what he sees as a new chapter for his career.

    Marc Diakiese Says Lack Of Activity Led To Him Leaving UFC, Joining PFL

    Diakiese spoke about his departure from the UFC in a recent interview with InsideFighting, during which he made it clear that he didn’t want to say the wrong thing or give the wrong impression.

    For him, the decision became an easy one over time because of two main factors, one from both sides.

    Diakiese was becoming frustrated with how long he was having to wait before receiving fights, and after his win over Kauê Fernandes last November, he was even waiting to be cut by the promotion.

    He detailed how this growing frustration and desire to be active meant that he felt like he was being “set free” when everything was finalized with the PFL.

    “Fresh start. For me, people see it different, but for me, it’s actually a relief. I can actually focus on certain things that I want to focus on, as in my career, so it’s a perfect spot for me and I’m really happy where I am,” Diakiese said. “There was a couple issues with myself before leaving, so I’m just happy that I’ve been given a spot where I can perform because I’m 31. Like I said, I want to be busy, active, put on a show. Not just one win and wait six months. For me, I can’t be doing that.

    “It might come out wrong but it was just like, I don’t want to wait, I don’t want to wait around. It were like okay, I had a fight in Brazil, after that I got given another fight in Vegas but it was another five-week notice, it was too short for me and I was hoping for something (in) Europe. Then they said July, so I was waiting for that, but then for some reason I got nothing from them on the July card. So I’m going to wait around and just keep waiting. I want to be active.”

    The other side to the coin was that although he was hoping to be kept more active in the UFC, he was coming around to the idea of signing with the PFL after attending events and speaking to fighters on the roster.

    As he has previously stated, Francis Ngannou played a role in the move, which only made the decision easier once it became time for him to make the call.

    “Just the way they treated me as a fighter and like, yeah, I’m sure you know I’ve been speaking to Francis Ngannou for quite a while and he spoke to me like I was a younger brother and talked to me maybe like six months ago, eight months ago. You know when you’ve come back to it and you just think about it and you’re like, ‘Is it right? Is it not?’ But when it came, it was the easiest decision, like, ‘Yeah okay, I don’t want to sign with anybody else but PFL.’”

  • Francis Ngannou’s Teammate & PFL Star Sadibou Sy Honest About Him Taking Anthony Joshua Fight

    Francis Ngannou cut ties with the UFC in Jan. 2023 and went on to box Tyson Fury in October later that year. Contrary to popular belief, he survived the ten rounds and knocked down Fury in the third.

    After a remarkable boxing debut, Ngannou fought former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. This time around, the MMA star suffered a crushing KO loss.

    “The Predator” is yet to return to boxing or fight for the PFL. The definitive loss to Joshua has compelled many to question Ngannou’s career choices, but here’s what his teammate Sadibou Sy thinks of it.

    Sadibou Sy Praises Francis Ngannou For Trying To Achieve Greatness By Fighting Anthony Joshua

    In an interview posted on the InsideFighting YouTube channel, Sy gave his two cents on Ngannou’s boxing career. He outright claimed that despite the loss, his teammate did the unthinkable and a loss doesn’t take away any of his greatbess.

    “So, for me, I would say this. Like, after the fact, when you have the results, saying, like, yeah he shouldn’t have done this, he shouldn’t have done that. Like, he did something unbelievable and something that’s never been done before. For me, just because he didn’t win against Anthony Joshua, doesn’t take that away.”

    Sy also pointed out that Ngannou earned the Joshua fight due to his impressive performance against Fury. He beat the reigning WBC heavyweight champion in the eyes of many and wasn’t a huge underdog going into his second boxing fight.

    “He, as a guy, coming in to martial arts and fighting in general, just being here for a couple of years, becoming a UFC champion. Fighting arguably, arguably the best heavyweight out there. In some guys’ opinion, winning that fight. That giving him the opportunity to now face Anthony Joshua. What is he supposed to do? No, I don’t want the big paycheck. No, I don’t want to, like, test myself.”

    Sy respects Ngannou for getting a huge paycheck and testing his mettle against the best fighters in another sport. He doesn’t think the Joshua fight was a mistake by any means and is proud of his teammate’s achievements.

    After making a fortune in boxing, Ngannou is expected to face Renan Ferreira in the PFL next.

  • Dan Hardy Names Opponent That ‘Makes The Most Sense’ For Jake Paul In MMA After Nate Diaz’s Rejections

    With a rematch of their boxing showdown in the steel surroundings of a cage looking unlikely, Jake Paul has been pitched an opponent other than Nate Diaz for his potential mixed martial arts venture.

    While building his record in the sport of professional boxing, Paul has long outlined his intention to also make a splash in the MMA world too. That appeared to take a step closer to coming to fruition in early 2023 when he put pen to paper on an MMA-exclusive deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

    At the time, the promotion noted that “The Problem Child” would spearhead its new PPV Super Fight division and make his debut in the SmartCage that same year. But in addition to 2023 completing without the ex-Disney star putting his MMA ambitions into motion, another calendar year is on its way to passing by.

    After defeating former UFC star Nate Diaz in the ring last August, both Paul and the PFL higher-ups made public pleas for the Stockton native to meet the longtime online personality in the cage.

    Since Diaz firmly dismissed that as a possibility, Paul’s focus has remained on boxing, where he’s set to face BKFC star Mike Perry later this month and heavyweight legend Mike Tyson toward the back end of 2024.

    With that, the chances of Paul crossing over to the cage are looking increasingly more unlikely. One ex-fighter and key figure in the PFL’s expansion, however, still sees an opponent who could convince the Cleveland native to lace the 4oz gloves…

    Hardy: Paul Could Be ‘Enticed’ To MMA For Woodley Fight

    During an interview with MMA Fighting, Dan Hardy — a former UFC title challenger and the current director of fighter operations for PFL Europe — was asked about the current state of Paul’s plans in MMA.

    After noting that a bout with Diaz appeared to take up all of Paul’s mixed martial arts interest, “The Outlaw” suggested that Diaz’s rejection stems from his fear of a stock-damaging defeat to “The Problem Child” in his realm of the fight game.

    With that ship seemingly sailing, Hardy does have another name in mind that could reignite Paul’s interest in MMA.

    “I think the idea ultimately was for Jake Paul to be able to get Nate Diaz in a cage and fight him in mixed martial arts,” Hardy said. “I think he had his heart set on Nate Diaz and I don’t think Nate Diaz wants to take the risk of sullying his name and his brand by losing to Jake in an MMA fight. I hate to say it but after watching the boxing match, I think Jake could potentially be a problem for Nate in MMA.

    “If we’re doing it, the one that makes the most sense is Tyron Woodley. He’s been commentating with the PFL, he does a great job with that. Every time I see him, we have a very frosty handshake. I feel like he still wants to punch me in the face,” Hardy continued. “Of course, he’s got that knockout loss to Jake Paul. If I’m Tyron Woodley, I’m putting myself at the front of the line to welcome Jake Paul into MMA. I think that’s the kind of opponent Jake Paul could be enticed by.”

    Paul and Woodley certainly have a history, having faced each other twice inside the squared circle. While their first contest in August 2021 was a close and competitive affair, the short-notice rematch four months later concluded with the former UFC champion face down on the canvas.

    Having continued to express his plans to revisit MMA three years on from his UFC exit, perhaps “The Chosen One” will raise his hand for the task of welcoming Paul to the SmartCage.

    For now, though, the polarizing YouTuber-turned-boxer will have his sights on a different ex-UFC athlete in Perry, who has emerged as a leading figure in bare-knuckle boxing owing to victories over Michael “Venom” Page, Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, and Thiago Alves.

  • Former PFL Finalist Returns From Retirement To Headline PFL Europe Card In Glasgow On September 28

    PFL Europe has confirmed details for the third installment of the 2024 season as the promotion heads to Glasgow, Scotland, for the first time.

    The official announcement states that elite MMA hasn’t been featured in this location for seven years, but all of that changes at the OVO Hydro on September 28.

    Two Scottish fighters have also been announced for the top two spots on the card. In the main event, former PFL finalist Stevie Ray comes out of retirement to take on Wales’ Lewis Long.

    “Braveheart” retired in June of last year after back-to-back defeats to Natan Schulte and Clay Collard eliminated him from the regular season.

    Long, meanwhile, is an experienced competitor with 26 fights on his pro record, having competed under the banners of both Bellator and Cage Warriors in the past. He last fought in May of 2022, suffering a decision loss to Thibault Gouti at Bellator 280.

    Scotland’s Robert Whiteford takes the co-main event slot having also not fought since May of 2022 when he competed at Bellator 281.

    He will be taking on the returning Roger Huerta, who has been out of competition since 2021 following a losing streak to some of the top names in Bellator. The 38-fight veteran last won a fight in 2017 and has faced some of the top names in his weight class in the UFC, Bellator, and ONE Championship.

    PFL Europe returns this Saturday in Newcastle, England, for the second stop on the way to the finals later this year in December.

  • Ariel Helwani Tells Donn Davis The Issue With Disparaging Kayla Harrison Remarks: ‘If You Want To Be Known As The Fighter-First Organization…’

    Ariel Helwani Tells Donn Davis The Issue With Disparaging Kayla Harrison Remarks: ‘If You Want To Be Known As The Fighter-First Organization…’

    Renowned combat sports reporter Ariel Helwani has further expanded on his firm criticism of Professional Fighters League executive Donn Davis.

    Throughout the PFL’s existence, the promotion’s higher-ups gave pushed forth the idea that the SmartCage is the place to be for fighters who want to valued and treated fairly.

    That notion, however, has taken a hit in 2024.

    While the acquisition of Bellator MMA was advertised as the PFL going from strength to strength, the main topic of discussion in recent times has surrounded fighter complaints, particularly from some of those who crossed over as a result of the merger.

    Both Gegard Mousasi and Douglas Lima have accused the promotion of keeping them sidelined due to the high figures on their contracts, with the former recently released as a result. Elsewhere, Sobah Homasi has bemoaned his struggle at getting reimbursed for medical bills, while both Larissa Pacheco and Cris Cyborg have spoken out about their struggle to secure a fight.

    Most recently, the PFL’s “fighter-first” claim came into question after its founder and chairman opted to fire shots at one of his promotion’s all-time most successful fighters.

    Weeks on from Kayla Harrison’s successful Octagon debut at UFC 300, Davis branded her a “follower who needs validation.” The comments drew significant backlash, with Helwani among the most vocal…

    Helwani Tells Davis: Take A Page Out Of Coker’s Book!

    During a recent interview with UFC legend and current ONE Championship titleholder Demetrious Johnson, Helwani expanded on his criticism of Davis’ remarks and explained why the NBA analogy he used to fire shots at Harrison made little sense.

    “Don’t get me started on this. This is crazy to me. When I saw that — it’s so crazy to me on so many different levels,” Helwani said. “Number one, the analogy doesn’t even fit… First of all, LeBron (James) left Cleveland to go join Miami and create a super team, and thus he won two championships with Miami. Doesn’t really fit there. But he’s taking a shot at Kayla by saying Kayla is more Kevin Durant… (Saying) the only way Kevin Durant could win a championship is by joining this super power… The analogy doesn’t work for multiple reasons. Number one, Kayla Harrison had already won championships with PFL!

    “Who’s the big fight (for Harrison in the PFL)? Larissa Pacheco (because) she beat her? Guess what, Kayla beat her twice! You want them to fight a fourth time? None of those fights drew a dime!… Cyborg? Okay, first of all, as of right this moment, Cyborg isn’t on the same page as the PFL and is openly complaining. There’s no guarantee that that fight would ever happen as well,” Helwani continued. “Now let’s compare that to the UFC, where you have a slew of new blood, a slew of new faces.”

    Helwani went on to reveal that he’d exchanged texts with the PFL chief after posting a tweet criticizing his remarks about Harrison. 

    Although he didn’t divulge both sides of the conversation, the Canadian journalist outlined the message he tried to hammer home to Davis.

    “I like Donn Davis a lot… (But) if you want to be known as the fighter-first organization, you can’t be taking shots at a two-time gold medalist, a two-time champion in your organization. You can’t be doing that,” Helwani stated. “You need to do what Scott Coker did when Michael Chandler left, who was the face of Bellator. ‘Good luck, we wish you the best, we’ll be rooting for you.’

    “I had a bit of a text conversation with Donn after I tweeted this. I’m not gonna talk about what we talked about, but what I tried to explain to him — I’ll say what I said to him, I won’t say what he said to me — we can debate who’s tougher, Pacheco or (Holly) Holm, Cyborg or (Amanda) Nunes, but here’s what your missing: Kayla Harrison going from 155 to 135 (pounds) is a challenge greater than all these people combined. That’s the part that you’re missing! … That challenge alone is worth our respect. You have to recognize that, Donn. The fact that you’re not, to me, will only tell other fighters and fans, hey, maybe this guy doesn’t get it,” Helwani concluded.

    Davis is yet to publicly comment on his decision to slam Harrison in the way that he did. The PFL chairman has, however, rejected claims that his promotion is failing to honor contracts it inherited in the Bellator takeover.

    Nevertheless, given the recent saga, it would appear that PFL has some work to do if it’s to convince the masses of its legitimacy as a fighter-first promotion.

  • Anthony Pettis & Jeremy Stephens Feature As PFL 1 Pairings Announced

    The Professional Fighters League is set to return with a bang on April 20 as the light heavyweights and lightweights take center stage for PFL 1.

    After a successful 2021 season, which came after the postponement of the previous lineup due to COVID-19, the PFL is looking to go even better with its fourth season in the sport.

    To do so, the rising promotion has bolstered its ranks with a number of new faces, some of which will be on display right from the off when the 155 and 205lbers look to open the season with a bang next month.

    The card, which was confirmed by the promotion on Tuesday, includes a host of widely-recognized names and intriguing clashes.

    On the ESPN+ card, slated for 5:30PM ET, long-time UFC veteran Stevie Ray (22-9) will enter the cage for the first time since 2019. The Scotsman, who has faced the likes of Michael Johnson, Paul Felder, and Joe Lauzon during his 32-fight career, has come out of retirement for the 2022 PFL lightweight season. He’ll face Alexander Martinez (8-2), who went 1-2 in last year’s competition.

    Elsewhere, former UFC middleweight Omari Akhmedov (21-7) hopes to make up for his unsuccessful PFL debut at last year’s finale when he opens his first full 205-pound season against former GCF heavyweight champion Viktor Pešta (18-6). Olivier Aubin-Mercier (13-5), meanwhile, will hope to keep his perfect PFL record intact as his season gets underway against a yet-to-be-announced 155-pound opponent.

    At 9:00 PM ET, four quality bouts are set to grace ESPN and ESPN+. Clay Collard (20-9-1), who recorded a victory over Anthony Pettis last year before falling in the lightweight semifinals, will welcome renowned MMA veteran Jeremy Stephens (28-19-1) to the PFL cage. “Lil Heathen” has made the move over from the UFC, where he shared the Octagon with names like Josh Emmett, Renan Barão, Max Holloway, Yair Rodriguez, José Aldo, Frankie Edgar, and Charles Oliveira.

    2021 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion Antonio Carlos Jr. (13-5-2) also has his pairing set. He’ll hope to follow in the footsteps of Kayla Harrison and record back-to-back titles. His journey to doing so begins against his compatriot Delan Monte (8-1). Another 2021 champion in action will be lightweight king Raush Manfio. To start his defense of last year’s championship on the right foot, “Cavalo de Guerra” has to dispatch South Africa’s Don Madge (10-3-1), who is riding a seven-fight win streak into this year’s season.

    Finally, hoping to make up for a lackluster 0-2 arrival in PFL last year, former UFC lightweight champion Pettis (24-12) has been dealt the hand of Ireland’s Myles Price (11-7), who enters his first PFL season having not competed since a 2019 victory over Peter Queally under the Bellator banner.

    The announced PFL 1 card is currently as follows:

    5:30PM ET/ESPN +

    Alexander Martinez vs. Stevie Ray (lightweight)

    Robert Wilkinson vs. Bruce Souto (light heavyweight)

    Omari Akhmedov vs. Viktor Pešta (light heavyweight)

    Marthin Hamlet vs. Teodoras Aukstuolis (light heavyweight)

    Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. TBA (lightweight)

    Emiliano Sordi vs. Josh Silveira (light heavyweight)

    9PM ET/ESPN & ESPN+

    Clay Collard vs. Jeremy Stephens (lightweight)

    Antonio Carlos Jr. vs. Delan Monte (light heavyweight)

    Anthony Pettis vs. Myles Price (lightweight)

    Raush Manfio vs. Don Madge (lightweight)

    Which fight are you most looking forward to seeing go down at PFL 1 on April 20?

  • Why Staying In The PFL Was A Smart Move For Kayla Harrison

    It was the moment Kayla Harrison’s dream was shattered. Sitting cageside at UFC 269, the two-time PFL women’s lightweight champ watched in disbelief as monumental underdog Julianna Peña took the back of Amanda Nunes, sunk in a rear-naked choke, and forced the Baddest Woman on the Planet to tap.

    For months, speculation had been rife that Harrison, at the time testing free agency, would soon sign with the UFC, face Nunes, and perhaps become the first to dethrone the seemingly unbeatable Brazilian. But as she watched Peña beat her to it, Harrison knew that the opportunity of her career—to defeat the GOAT and thereby claim the title for herself—had just passed agonizingly by.

    Harrison, a two-time Olympic judo gold medalist with a 12-0 MMA record, has consistently voiced her ambition to become the greatest women’s mixed martial artist of all time. And that’s why, earlier this month, the 31-year-old shocked many fans by spurning an offer to fight the very best in the UFC, and instead, re-sign with the PFL.

    Perhaps Nunes’ defeat factored into her decision. The massive spectacle (and payday) that a matchup with the Brazilian promised is now a far less attractive prospect. That aside, it seems there are other compelling reasons why Harrison may have made the right decision—both financially and for her long-term career.

    Why Staying In The PFL Is Good For Harrison’s Career

    Harrison only made her pro MMA debut in the PFL just under four years ago. Despite her claim that she could beat UFC bantamweight champ Peña with one arm, Kayla is still relatively inexperienced in MMA and, it can safely be argued, untested.

    As inexperienced Kayla is, the opponents thrown her way in the PFL are even more so. Her last opponent, Taylor Guardado, had a pro MMA career spanning less than two years and four fights when the duo met in October last year. Her opponent before that, Genah Fabian, had just five fights. And if Harrison’s opponents aren’t inexperienced, they have worryingly checkered records. When she fought Mariana Morais in May last year, the Brazilian was 16-10.

    Kayla Harrison
    PHOTO: ESPN

    Sure, Harrison has looked impressive, having ended seven of her twelve fights in the first round. But whether she can defeat someone like Amanda Nunes, whose 14-year, 26 fight career has mostly taken place in the UFC, is highly debatable. Fighting Nunes or Peña now would certainly be in their favor, and if Kayla were to lose, it would irreparably damage her star power. Fighting them after a few more years growing as a mixed martial artist in the PFL will surely be in Harrison’s.

    And why not stay and work on her game in the PFL, where she’s made $2 million by winning the lightweight tournament in the last two years? And now with her new contract, Harrison is reportedly the highest-paid female mixed martial artist of all time. Despite the UFC offering Harrison a “first-of-its-kind” deal during her free agency, even its president, Dana White, believes the easy, more-than-generous paydays she earns in the PFL are too good to give up.

    “They pay her an obscene amount of money to fight over there,” White said of Harrison’s PFL stint in October. “If I was her, I’d stay right where she is and keep picking off the people over [there]. When you come here [chuckles], Amanda Nunes is no joke; Shevchenko is no joke; Rose Namajunas—these are all the best women in the world, the best female fighters in the world.”

    The Personal Reasons Keeping Kayla Harrison In The PFL

    Part of the reason why Harrison made the decision, it seems, is because she’s motivated by conflicting ambitions. Yes, she wants to prove she’s the best. But having recently acquired legal guardianship of two children, her quest for GOAT status has become complicated by the need for financial security.

    “Three years ago, I would have said legacy,” Harrison said of her ambitions in a February interview with ESPN. “That’s all I give a shit about. My advisers, they care about security. Obviously, I have two kids now, so for me, as hard as it is, security comes first. I have to make sure. There’s no guarantees in this life. There’s no certainties. I could snap my neck tomorrow and never fight again. Security is important. But if I can find a way to have security and continue to build my legacy, I think that’s a winner.”

    The question is: can Harrison have her cake and eat it too?

    Kayla Harrison
    Kayla Harrison (Image Credit: PFL MMA)

    The Less Travelled Road To GOAT Status In The PFL

    Having been given assurances by the PFL, Kayla Harrison earnestly believes that she’ll get the big, legacy-building fights while fighting in the promotion. And one matchup that she feels will help her on the road to GOAT status is with Bellator featherweight champ Cris Cyborg, which PFL founder Donn Davis has promised to aggressively pursue through a cross-promotion. 

    “When I talked to Donn, and one of the things that really sort of put my worries about my legacy to rest, was he was like, ‘Listen, ‘I don’t care if we have to do this on the Moon, I don’t care if we have to cross-promote, co-promote, we’re going to make this fight happen. This is the fight to make happen,’” Harrison told The Underground this month. “I was like, ‘Well, hell yeah, it is. Let’s go.’”

    Unlike the UFC, which is notoriously unwilling to stage a cross-promotion fight, there’s a good chance that Bellator will, having previously done so with Rizin Fighting Federation in 2019. But even if Harrison were to land a big-money fight with Cyborg, defeating her would by no means confer GOAT status in the eyes of fans.

    So, is Harrison sacrificing her prime years in a promotion that many, including Peña, regard as the ‘B-Leagues?’ There’s certainly an argument for that. But by staying in the PFL for a few more years, Harrison will emerge a much more complete fighter. And if she does enter the UFC in the future, she’ll undoubtedly have a much more realistic chance of becoming the greatest of all time.

    What do you think? Was staying in the PFL the right move for Kayla Harrison?

  • Harrison Responds To “Can Crusher” Narrative With Impassioned Speech

    Kayla Harrison has come to the defense of fellow MMA fighters against trolls.

    Kayla Harrison is not going to sit back and let people bash her fellow MMA fighters. Harrison is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about female fighters in the world and having all that spotlight shining on her seems like a good opportunity to express her true feelings.

    In an interview with Sirius XM, Harrison spoke about her feelings towards people on the internet dissing the women she faces.

    “The internet is just full of all this noise,” Harrison said. “I used to get so upset by it, but I really just want to say to them, shame on you. Shame on you for calling these women—first of all, women’s MMA wasn’t even a real thing how many years ago. This has been built very quickly and it’s grown exponentially because of Miesha, because of Ronda, because of all these girls who are like, ‘I’m so good you can’t ignore me’ basically. Now we have women who are stepping into the cage who are working two jobs and who are single moms and are doing all this stuff and they are actually chasing their dreams and who are literally fighting for what they love.”

    Kayla Harrison
    Kayla Harrison (Photo: Instagram @JudoKayla)

    Harrison recently re-signed with PFL. PFL has been her home for MMA for the past three seasons. Leading up to this 2022 season, Harrison was toying with the idea of leaving the promotion and targeted a potential bout with Cris Cyborg in Bellator.

    Ultimately, that deal was not made and Harrison will once again compete for the PFL championship and one million dollars. There have been people who are critical of the competition that Harrison has faced or will face in PFL, to these people she has something to say.

    “And these a–holes on the internet have the balls to call them cans, like no, you’re a can,” Harrison said. “You’re a can, you’re a tomato can, you’re a POS, how dare you talk about these women like that? It’s so frustrating to me.”

    Harrison might be in PFL for this next year or more, but she is still open to facing tougher competition. She has expressed interest in facing both Cris Cyborg and Amanda Nunes in the future.

    What are your thoughts on Kayla Harrison’s passionate speech in response to the “can crusher” label placed upon her?

  • Kayla Harrison Says UFC Made Her A Historic Offer During Free Agency

    Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison has detailed the negotiations that took place and the offer she received from the UFC during her time as a free agent.

    While the past six months have seen new stories and headlines develop, one constant point of discussion has been the future of Harrison.

    Following her victory over Taylor Guardado in October, a triumph that extended her unbeaten record to 12-0 and secured her second consecutive PFL lightweight championship, the Ohio native entered the uncertain waters of free agency.

    From the UFC to Bellator, the two-time Olympic gold medalist certainly wasn’t short of offers. According to her manager, the WWE even reached out over a potential signing.

    But after back and forth rumors, changes, and appearances at various promotions, it was announced last week that Harrison had signed a multi-year deal and would be staying put in the PFL cage.

    Despite the final weeks of her free agency suggesting either a signing with Bellator or another stint with PFL, Harrison recently revealed she had positive discussions with the UFC.

    Harrison Also Received ‘First-Of-Its-Kind’ Offer From UFC

    In the aftermath of her signing, both Harrison and her manager Ali Abdelaziz have boasted about the special nature of her contract, which Abdelaziz claims makes her the highest-paid female mixed martial artist of all time.

    As it turns out, that wasn’t the only special deal on her table.

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Marc Raimondi, Harrison detailed the negotiations that took place between her team and the UFC, revealing that the Dana White-led promotion also sent a ‘first-of-its-kind’ deal her way.

    “There were good interactions (with the UFC). It was a great deal (that they offered). And I think, again, I was very pleased to hear that it’s an offer that hasn’t really happened before,” said Harrison.

    Ultimately, the 31-year-old cited different guarantees and timing as the reasons why the UFC’s offer wasn’t further assessed.

    “But I think that the guarantee is a little bit different. I don’t really know how to say this. It was a great offer, but getting into all the moving parts, getting into behind the scenes, getting into all the little things that people may not understand or know about—it didn’t make sense and the timing wasn’t right. And also, it didn’t matter because PFL would’ve matched that one,” Harrison concluded.

    For now, at least, fans will continue seeing Harrison in the PFL. While she plans on making a run for her third straight championship in this year’s season, the former judoka is targeting big fights in 2023.

    If she continues running through her competition, it remains possible that the 31-year-old will eventually enter the Octagon or mix it up with rival Cris Cyborg over in Bellator.

    Who would you have liked to see Kayla Harrison put pen-to-paper with? Are you happy to see her back in the PFL?

  • Kayla Harrison Opens Up About Traumatic Past And Suicidal Thoughts

    Undefeated PFL veteran Kayla Harrison spoke on her past sexual abuse and hitting one of the lowest points in her life.

    Undoubtedly, Harrison has proven her toughness. Before she was a dominant force in the Professional Fighters League, she crushed the Judo Olympic competition in 2012 and 2016, taking home the gold twice.

    And it didn’t stop there. Harrison continued her exemplary legacy in MMA and became the PFL Women’s Lightweight World Champion in 2019, and she would go on to win the 2021 lightweight tournament as well.

    Kayla Harrison
    Kayla Harrison, Photo Credit: Getty Images

    Kayla Harrison proves time and time again why she is one of the fiercest competitors in the game by delivering 5 knockouts and 5 submissions in her 12-fight career.

    It takes more than just physical capability to be as powerful as Kayla in the cage. It takes a strong mind to put in the effort to be great.

    All of her accomplishments justify the strength she has mentally, to grow and forgive a traumatic event of her past. At a young age, Harrison was sexually abused by her coach, and it made her question her will to live.

    That dark time forced her to make a decision.

    “When I was in my teens, I was suicidal. I didn’t want to live. I got to the point where I was either gonna run away, kill myself, or say something,” she told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour.

    Harrison is thankful to herself for mustering the courage to speak out against her abusive coach. He was put away for ten years, released in 2016.

    She suffered from PTSD and felt she hit several low points in her life. And although that event was scarring for her, she expressed appreciation for it.

    “I’m not sorry. No, I’m grateful because I think that everything happens for a reason, and then I think that I wouldn’t be who I am today if I hadn’t gone through that and I wouldn’t be the person I am, the fighter I am, and the survivor I am, the mother I am… the friend I am. I wouldn’t be Kayla if I hadn’t gone through that and I wouldn’t be able to change the world the way I want to if that hadn’t happened to me, ya know?”

    Kayla Harrison uses the traumatic experience as a reason to be a better person, instead of allowing it to consume her mind and dig her into a deeper pit of despair.

    Her courageous acts and phenomenal performances make her a true inspiration for many people out there. She is living proof that it is possible to change the course of your life and not allow your past to overcome you.

    National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

  • Coker On Harrison/PFL: I Hope They Can Find Someone For Her To Fight

    Bellator president Scott Coker is questioning Kayla Harrison’s decision to re-sign with the PFL and not sign with either Bellator or the UFC.

    Harrison concluded her free agency this week when she opted to re-sign with the PFL on a multi-year deal. She also had conversations with the UFC and Bellator before ultimately deciding to stay loyal to PFL.

    Coker and Bellator pitched the top offer to Harrison before the PFL matched shortly afterward.

    Some around MMA remain concerned about Harrison’s level of competition in the PFL, despite the league signing former Bellator champion Julia Budd and boxing superstar Claressa Shields. Nevertheless, Harrison remains intent on accomplishing her goals in the PFL and seems confident that the league will bring top talent to face her.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Coker opined that Harrison could have ongoing issues finding elite competition in the PFL.

    “With Kayla right now, I don’t know who she’s gonna fight over there,” Coker said of Harrison. “She’s got to fight the girls that are the dominant girls in that weight class, (who) are Cyborg, to me the greatest female fighter of all time, Amanda Nunes, and then Kayla. She’s growing, she’s doing very well, but she’s got to fight somebody to really showcase that she has that ability to fight at that elite level.

    PFL Harrison vs Dandois
    Kayla Harrison and Cindy Dandois in their lightweight fight at PFL 6 (PHOTO: Cooper Neill / PFL)

    “And that’s why we made a run because Cris Cyborg was like, ‘Look, I’ll fight anybody, and let’s get her on.’ And we said, ‘Hey, that would be a fun fight to promote,’ but listen, it didn’t work out. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t, good for them, but we’re gonna move forward with our business with Cris. We’re in the Cris Cyborg business. I just hope they find somebody to fight Kayla at some point.”

    Harrison is getting ready to compete in the 2022 PFL season and will look to defend her women’s lightweight title. Harrison defeated Taylor Guardado for the PFL Championship last October.

    Harrison had been rumored to be tied to superfights with former UFC champions Amanda Nunes and Cris “Cyborg” Justino. In addition to Harrison’s new deal, the PFL has announced that they will open a “superfight division” to attract top talent to the league.

    Do you think Kayla Harrison made the right move to return to PFL?

  • Kayla Harrison Believes GOAT Status Is Still Attainable With PFL Deal

    Newly re-signed PFL women’s lightweight champion Kayla Harrison feels she can accomplish her goals in the PFL without joining another promotion.

    After months of negotiating and hearing offers, Harrison elected to re-sign with the PFL after a lengthy free agency process. She signed a new multi-year deal with the league and is set to compete in the league’s upcoming 2022 season.

    A big talking point of Harrison’s free agency was her level of competition so far during her 12-0 professional career. She had once been linked to potential matchups with Bellator featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino and former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes.

    But Harrison feels that the league is ready to take the next step and add more talent to the roster amidst her new contract.

    During a recent interview on ESPN’s SportsCenter, Harrison reflected on her free agency and what led to her re-signing with the PFL.

    “I think there were a lot of contract negotiations, there were a lot of offers, many of them very lucrative,” Harrison said. “Ultimately, the PFL had the right to match any contract offer I received and they stepped up in a big way, and now I’m going to be staying with the PFL. I’m excited.

    Kayla Harrison
    Kayla Harrison (Image Credit: PFL MMA)

    “I talked to [PFL founder and chairman] Donn Davis last night, and he made it very clear to me that the goals I have for myself, the ways I want to challenge myself are still going to be accomplished and the PFL supports me in that 100%. And they’re not afraid to pay big money to get big-name fighters to try to challenge me.”

    Harrison’s re-signing with the PFL had reportedly hit a roadblock in recent weeks, but it appears the league turned things around after the brief ordeal. One of her American Top Team coaches, Mike Brown, has also said that he wants to see Harrison get a step up in competition going forward.

    Bellator had allegedly offered Harrison the most lucrative deal before the PFL came forward and matched it, securing her re-signing.

    Harrison won the 2021 PFL women’s lightweight championship in dismantling Taylor Guardado in the finals. She’s expected to face fierce competition in 2022, including former Bellator champion Julia Budd and potentially, up-and-coming MMA prospect Claressa Shields.

    What is your reaction to Kayla Harrison re-signing with the PFL?

  • Manager: PFL Deal Makes Harrison Highest-Paid Female MMA Fighter

    According to Dominance MMA Management CEO Ali Abdelaziz, Kayla Harrison’s new PFL deal has made her the highest-paid female mixed martial artist in history.

    After months of speculation and uncertainty, the future of one of the most sought-after free agents in MMA was announced this week. Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and undefeated lightweight is set for some more years fighting under the promotional banner of the rising PFL organization.

    “I’m happy the free agency is over and I have a fight on the horizon,” Harrison told The New York Post via text. “I’m excited to continue to grow and challenge myself and be one of the highest-paid athletes in the sport.”

    And one of the highest-paid athletes she certainly is, if her manager is to be believed.

    Per journalist Aaron Bronsteter, Abdelaziz has said his client has shot to the top of the ladder in women’s MMA when it comes to financial gain following the signing of a new lucrative contract.

    “I spoke with Harrison’s manager @AliAbdelaziz00, who said ‘the PFL stepped up in a big way and Kayla is now the highest paid women’s mixed martial artist ever. I want to thank everyone who was involved in getting the deal done and in particular, Peter Murray and Ray Sefo.’”

    Given that she’s only 12 fights and four years deep into her career, if true, Harrison’s status as the highest-paid female MMA fighter ever is certainly an impressive achievement.

    Harrison Will Pursue A 3rd PFL Title In 2022

    While a return to the PFL seemed likely a number of weeks ago, a late offer from Bellator seemingly threw a spanner in the works. If that came to fruition, a long-awaited clash between Harrison and Cris Cyborg, who have been going back and forth on social media for months, would have been a possibility.

    Unfortunately for Bellator kingpin Scott Coker, his rival for her signature was able to match the offer, thus paving the way for this week’s confirmation.

    With her future finally laid out following five months of discussion and a tied-down place on the sport’s rumor mill, Harrison will now turn her attention to what she seemingly does best—destroying her competition inside the PFL cage and capturing gold.

    Having previously secured $1 million checks and championship glory in both 2019 and 2021, the Ohio native will be looking for a third successive dose of PFL glory when she returns for the 2022 season.

    With the addition of former Bellator featherweight champion Julia Budd to the equation, this year promises to provide the former Judoka with her stiffest tests to date.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CVkrTb8g47i/

    Do you think re-signing with PFL was the correct move for Kayla Harrison?

  • Kayla Harrison Re-Signs With PFL On Multi-Year Deal

    The Kayla Harrison sweepstakes are over as the two-time Olympic gold medalist has re-signed with PFL.

    After Harrison won the 2021 PFL lightweight season, she was a free agent. And for the past couple of months, she has been talking with other promotions. Many were curious to see if she would leave PFL or sign somewhere else.

    On Tuesday, it was revealed she re-signed with PFL on a multi-year deal after the promotion matched the offer Bellator gave her.

    “I’m happy the free agency is over and I have a fight on the horizon,” Harrison told The New York Post via text. “I’m excited to continue to grow and challenge myself and be one of the highest-paid athletes in the sport.”

    Harrison is 12-0 as a pro and 11 of her 12 pro fights have been in PFL with one fighting being Invicta in 2020 when PFL didn’t have a season. She is the two-time champ and is now looking to remain the only PFL lightweight champion.

    Kayla Harrison
    Kayla Harrison

    “I am also excited PFL is on board with helping me reach my goals of becoming the best and trying to acquire some of the biggest competition in the game to come and challenge me,” Harrison said. “I look forward to us making those fights happen and until then I have another belt to win.”

    In the 2022 season, Harrison could very well have the toughest test of her career as former Bellator featherweight champ, Julia Budd has joined the promotion.

    When and who Harrison will fight in the season opener is uncertain at this time. However, along with the season, PFL announced in a statement they are launching a new pay-per-view super-fight division.

    “I am also excited to announce the PFL is launching a new Pay-Per-View Super Fight Division where star MMA fighters will compete on a global stage against the best fighters in the sport,” PFL CEO Peter Murray said in a statement. “Two-time PFL Champion, Kayla Harrison, will be fighting in the PFL’s 2022 Season starting this April on ESPN networks and will also continue to build her legacy as a main event in the PFL’s PPV Super Fight Division.”

    Are you surprised Kayla Harrison re-signed with PFL?

  • Harrison Invites Cyborg To Her Gym With PFL Likely To Re-Sign Her

    Kayla Harrison is getting tired of Cris Cyborg’s tweets about her.

    On Tuesday evening, it was revealed the PFL has matched Bellator‘s offer and it’s likely Harrison will sign back with PFL. After the news came out by MMA reporter Ariel Helwani, Cyborg chimed in with a response.

    Shortly after her response, Harrison issued a fiery response to Cyborg about her constantly adding in her thoughts about her decision.

    “Hey @criscyborg @ me if you have something to say,” Harrison quote tweeted. “I’m so sick of this shit. @AmericanTopTeam’s addy is 5750 sr 7 coconut creek fl. I’m there 6 days a week.”

    Of course, had Harrison signed with Bellator, she would’ve fought at featherweight and would have been an immediate title challenger for Cyborg. It would be a massive fight, as Cyborg is considered one of the best featherweights of all time while Harrison is undefeated but hasn’t been tested enough, so the bout makes sense. However, it appears the two-time Olympic gold medalist is set to re-sign with PFL.

    Kayla Harrison (12-0) won the 2021 PFL women’s lightweight tournament as she defeated Taylor Guardado by submission. In the 2021 season, she also defeated Genah Fabian by TKO, Cindy Dandois by submission, and Mariana Morais by TKO.

    Harrison has competed at featherweight before as in 2020 with PFL not having a season, she fought Courtney King in Invicta. There, she scored a TKO win, but that is the only time she cut down to 145lbs.

    With Harrison re-signing with PFL, she will look to become a three-time champion. However, she will likely have her biggest test to date as PFL did ink former Bellator champion Julia Budd to compete this season.

    Are you surprised Kayla Harrison re-signed with PFL? And what do you make of her interaction with Cris Cyborg?

  • Anthony Pettis Opens Up On Struggles In His First PFL Season

    Former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis didn’t have the ideal start to the new chapter of his MMA career in the PFL in 2021.

    Pettis signed with the PFL last year after a long tenure in the UFC, which included a reign as the lightweight king. He would go on to lose the belt at UFC 185 before up-and-down runs at featherweight and welterweight.

    Pettis was seen as arguably the biggest acquisition by the league in recent years. Many believed he would be the favorite to earn the league’s lightweight championship in his first season, but it wasn’t to be.

    Pettis went winless in his rookie season with the PFL, falling to Clay Collard in the season opener before a controversial split decision loss to Raush Manfio at PFL 6. He would fail to qualify for the postseason after being regarded as the title favorite in some circles.

    As Pettis gets ready for a potential bounceback in 2022 in the PFL, he’s still reflecting on what went wrong last year. During a recent interview with MMA Island, Pettis opened up on his first season with the league.

    “I didn’t know what to expect last year in the PFL, honestly,” Pettis said. “You know I was coming over from a format of the UFC, of we would fight, take our time off, heal our injuries and then call somebody out, get the next fight, have a camp, sometimes have a quick short-notice fight that would be like the worst-case scenario. But like the PFL format and the season is probably one of the hardest formats of fighting there is. You know, fighting every eight weeks is the fight.”

    Anthony Pettis Reflects On Losses & Pressure Of First PFL Year

    PFL 6 results: Anthony Pettis loses again, Kayla Harrison extends unbeaten record to 10-0 - Bloody Elbow
    Anthony Pettis, Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

    Pettis’ loss to Collard was a shocking upset in many eyes. He was knocked down multiple times in the fight and seemed to struggle to get anything going with his striking. Pettis said his first fight set him back in the lightweight division.

    “Like the first fight I went out there and fought Clay Collard; I had a horrible performance from the way the cage felt it was like I never fought on canvas, for I mean—I haven’t fought on vinyl in a long time where I was used to fight on canvas,” Pettis admitted. “Every kick I threw, I was slipping. I was falling down, so it was like a lot of adjustments after that first fight where I was like, all right I only have eight weeks to change this fighting style to make it work for this style for fighting in this cage and this floor, so I worked on my boxing for the second half of the season.

    “I had a great close fight with the champ Raush Manfio. I thought I won that fight, but obviously, he got it. He got his million bucks. I’m not a hater. Congrats to him, but for me, it’s like I know how good I am and where I’m at and I’ve seen he’s the champion and seen how our fights went, I’m right there. I just got to make small adjustments, and I think the experience from last season is going to definitely help me out with this season.” 

    Pettis went on to admit that he felt the pressure of being a big-name fighter entering a new promotion.

    “There was a lot of pressure too,” Pettis said. “It’s weird because like you know even being a vet where I’m at in the fights that I fought in there was a lot of pressure going to a new organization and they were like expecting, well I felt like they’re expecting that show to come out and I put a lot of pressure on myself to fight that way. This time around I’m like yo that one out of the system, let’s have this season to win and not to perform if you will.”

    Pettis will be joined by Manfio, Collard, and former UFC fighter Jeremy Stephens during the 2022 lightweight season. He defeated Jeremy Stephens via split decision at UFC 136 as he made his run to the belt.

    Pettis is looking to remind fight fans of how dominant he can be in the cage when he’s at his best. While some may be writing off Pettis already, he’s looking to silence the doubters in the upcoming season.

    What are your predictions for Anthony Pettis in 2022?

  • Kayla Harrison Admits Sadness At Estranged Relationship With Rousey

    Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison has admitted she’s saddened by her broken relationship with former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.

    While Rousey has left the sport after holding gold on its biggest stage and pioneering the rise of female MMA into the mainstream, Harrison is currently forging her own legacy inside the cage.

    After transitioning to MMA following two gold medal triumphs at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, Harrison made a splash in the rising PFL promotion. Now approaching her fourth year in the sport, the 31-year-old sits as the most sought-after free agent in the game after back-to-back championships in 2019 and 2021.

    But while Harrison continues to pummel her competition and perhaps gets set for a move to the UFC or Bellator, she’s creating her success in the sport without former friend Rousey by her side.

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Marc Raimondi, Harrison discussed her current relationship with Rousey, whom she was roommates and good friends with when the pair were part of the US judo team together over a decade ago, long before “Rowdy” gained celebrity status.

    After admitting that they aren’t friends anymore, Harrison suggested the turn of events is saddening, especially given how Rousey helped her during the Ohio native’s teen years.

    “No, I think we kinda are like, I don’t think we’re friends anymore. I don’t know. We’re estranged, that’s the perfect word,” Harrison said. “We were roommates, you know. We traveled the world together at one point. She was buying me groceries cause I was a poor 16-year-old with like, five bucks in my account. So, at one point I really looked up to her and we were close. So, it is sad.”

    Harrison Comments On Rousey’s WWE Return

    Since her invincibility inside the Octagon was crushed by a Holly Holm head kick in 2015 and an Amanda Nunes onslaught in 2016, Rousey has pursued ventures outside of MMA. That’s included a transition to the art of professional wrestling.

    She made her first WWE appearance early in 2018 before debuting at the company’s showcase event, WrestleMania, later in the year. After winning the Raw Women’s Championship and holding it for 231 days, the 35-year-old’s contract expired.

    After taking time away, a period that included the birth of her first child, Rousey returned to the ring last month.

    During her interaction with ESPN, Harrison reacted to her former roommate’s return to her “fake thing.” She also shut the door on a potential reunion with “Rowdy” on the pro wrestling circuit.

    “I heard she’s back to, ‘Be nice Kayla…’ She’s back to doing her thing, her fake thing [LAUGHS]… Can you imagine if I joined her (in WWE)? … We’d beat the men. Like, legit. It’s never gonna happen,” Harrison stated.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CZWzAnJLjTh/

    While Rousey begins another stint with WWE, Harrison will be hoping to confirm her immediate future and next destination soon as she gears up for a targeted spring return to the cage.

    It initially appeared another season with the PFL was leading the charge. But an apparent breakdown in negotiations has left the door wide open. Having met with UFC officials in previous months, perhaps we’ll see Harrison pursue similar success to Rousey on MMA’s biggest stage soon enough.

    Do you think Kayla Harrison can surpass Ronda Rousey’s achievements and legacy in the sport of MMA?

  • Shields Faults “Egos” For Other Boxers’ Lack Of Success In MMA Challenge

    Decorated boxer Claressa Shields has many accomplishments, including being a boxing champion to have competed and win an MMA match.

    The list of accolades continues to grow for “T. Rex.” By age 26, Claressa Shields has taken home Olympic gold twice, won numerous boxing championships across weight classes, and now sports a win in the PFL.

    Claressa Shields
    Claressa Shields, Photo Credit: Stephanie Trapp

    Shields won her MMA debut by TKOing Brittney Elkin, then she went on to her next match a few months later.

    Though the undefeated boxer fought hard, she took the first loss of her professional fighting career via split decision against Abigail Montes.

    She still considers herself “The Greatest Woman Of All Time” and prides herself on stepping up to the challenge of MMA. Currently a lone wolf in her acts, Shields blames “egos” for other boxers not following suit.

    “Ego, men have a lot of egos, a lot of boxers have egos. They want to be great at what they’re great at and the minute they’re faced with something uncomfortable or abnormal, they don’t want to do it,” Shields explains to SunSport.

    Many boxers tried their hand at mixed martial arts. Famous names in the realm of boxing such as James Toney, and Ricardo Mayorga made an effort in the sport. While revered boxing champions, they both met failure in their MMA debuts and retired from the sport.

    Notably, former boxer and UFC veteran LaVerne Clark saw success in MMA. He won his UFC debut, and from 1998 to 1999, won 9 fights in a row, mostly by TKO.

    In recent years, no other boxing champions besides Shields has made an attempt at mixed martial arts. It’s been over 10 years since fellow boxing legend Holly Holm set out on her MMA journey, in which she became UFC women’s bantamweight champion.

    Ten facts about Holly Holm
    Holly Holm, Image Credit: Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Image

    Undoubtedly, some fighters fear their perfect records being tarnished by a loss. However, Shields plans to take her MMA career all the way to the top.

    A championship belt in MMA may be the toughest challenge of her combat career, but she refuses to back down.

    “It’s unprecedented, it’s never been done before and that’s what people want to see, extraordinary things. And the fact that I’m willing to put my reputation, my record, put everything on the line to achieve the PFL world title, it shows my character,” Calaressa continues.

    From the Olympics to boxing to MMA, Shields proves her tenacity is unmatched.

    She currently dominates women’s lightweight boxing; undefeated at 12-0. And on February 5, she rebounded from her MMA loss with a unanimous decision boxing win against Ema Kozin.

    Shields plans to reappear in the PFL in 2023 to continue her legacy. Perhaps Shields will start a trend of professional boxers turned successful MMA fighters.

    Are you excited for Claressa Shields’s next MMA bout?

  • Report: Kayla Harrison’s Return To PFL Hits Sudden Roadblock

    Not so fast: Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison may not be shooting for a three-peat as the PFL’s women’s lightweight champion after all.

    Last month, MMA journalist Ariel Helwani reported that the PFL is the strong front-runner to re-sign Harrison. In a follow-up tweet to the report, he stated that the deal was as good as done.

    Harrison herself confirmed that she was nearing a deal with the PFL. Then, Thursday morning, things took a turn.

    “Talks between Kayla Harrison and the PFL have hit a snag at the 11th hour, I’m told. They aren’t dead but road blocks have materialized. She is now assessing her next move and nothing is being ruled out,” Helwani tweeted.

    Harrison also sent out the following tweet shortly before Helwani’s report:

    “Change of plans?”

    Kayla Harrison has been competing in MMA since 2018, with the entirety of her 12 professional fights taking place in the PFL. The Olympian has remained undefeated, with each victory being either a finish or a dominant unanimous decision. Most recently, Harrison won the PFL’s women’s lightweight season for the second time when she defeated Taylor Guardado at PFL 10.

    This latest development will no doubt give hope to the many MMA fans who remain eager to see Harrison face a fresh batch of competition. It also will no doubt reinvigorate UFC’s and Bellator’s efforts to land Harrison.

    According to Helwani’s January report, the UFC was making a strong push to land Harrison. In fact, White publicly invited Harrison to prove how good she is by fighting Amanda Nunes, who at the time of those comments had not lost a fight since 2014. Bellator President Scott Coker also stated that he would try to woo Harrison into the Bellator fold.

    Numerous people within the industry, including WMMA legend Miesha Tate, believe Harrison should join the UFC, with others arguing that she should join any larger promotion with a deeper talent pool.

    MMA News will no doubt keep you abreast of all the latest updates on this developing story.

  • Claressa Shields Revisits Then Drops Jake Paul Beef While Giving Him Credit

    Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields spoke on conflict with Jake Paul and seemed willing to drop their beef.

    Since 2016, Claressa “T. Rex” Shields has dominated women’s boxing. She is the first American boxer to win consecutive Olympic medals and has won multiple world championships in three separate weight classes.

    Claressa Shields
    Claressa Shields, Photo Credit:  STEPHANIE TRAPP/ TRAPPFOTOS/ SHOWTIME

    12-0 in her professional boxing career, Claressa Shields is easily a revered champion. And in 2021, the superstar made a switch to mixed martial arts.

    She won her MMA debut against Brittney Elkin by TKO at PFL 4 last June. However, later in the year, Shields lost via split decision against Abigail Montes, and immediately following that loss, Jake Paul had a few choice words.

    “The only beef I have with Jake Paul is don’t ever disrespect me, you know what I’m sayin’? Like, he tried to kick me when I was down and also going into a new sport,” Shields said in an interview with TMZ Sports. “I lost a split decision. I didn’t get submitted, I didn’t get knocked out, I didn’t get beat up, it was a split. And I’m also brand new at MMA. And when he made that comment, calling me a loser and stuff, that’s what really made me want to fight him.

    “And then it’s like, you can’t call me a loser because you don’t box better than me and you damn sure don’t do MMA better than me. You don’t do nothing better than me. That’s it. To kick somebody while they’re down but never give them their props when they’re up, that was kinda wack to me and that’s why I didn’t have no respect for him,” Shields explains on TMZ Sports.

    But their beef between them did not start there. Claressa Shields claims undefeated Jake Paul would be an easy opponent for her and requested a sparring match. She later threatened to sue Paul and his team for claiming that she had requested to be on Paul’s undercard.

    Claressa Shields & Jake Pau Squash Beef

    On January 7, Paul took to Twitter to squash their disagreement.

    “Let’s put this behind us and work together to continue to build women’s boxing,” Paul tweeted.

    Recently, Jake Paul helped promote a highly anticipated boxing match between undisputed champions Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor, which Shields expressed an appreciation for and thus met Paul halfway in his olive-branch extension.

    “But now, I just wish him the best,” Shields said. “I wish him the best. If he ever wanna spar, it’s always up in the air. It’s always an option. Because I do owe him a couple blows,” Shields said half-jokingly. “But other than that, I think what he’s doing for Amanda is great. I think him getting involved in helping the fight with Katie Taylor getting made is great for Amanda, and Katie, and it’s great for women’s boxing. So I appreciate him for that,” Shields continued.

    Considering women’s boxing is a high priority for both athletes, perhaps their quarrel can now be swept under the rug.

    Do you think this is the end of the Claressa Shields and Jake Paul beef?

  • Quote: Harrison Is P4P Best Female Fighter Ever, Not Rousey/Nunes

    According to Dominance MMA Management CEO Ali Abdelaziz, Kayla Harrison is the pound-for-pound greatest female fighter of all time.

    In the space of three-and-a-half years, Harrison has rapidly grown from a newcomer to the sport to the hottest free agent in MMA. In doing so, she’s collected 12 wins, including five by knockout and five by submission, two PFL world championships, and a handsome $2 million in prize money.

    Having added those accolades to her already illustrious career in combat sports, which includes back-to-back Olympic gold medals at London 2012 and in Rio de Janeiro four years later, the 31-year-old has quickly entered the female GOAT conversation, at least according to her manager.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYrLabTh4XJ/

    While some believe she first has to prove herself in the UFC before surpassing the likes of former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and former two-division titleholder and reigning featherweight queen Amanda Nunes, Harrison’s manager sees things differently.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura, Abdelaziz, who also manages the likes of Kamaru Usman, Henry Cejudo, Justin Gaethje, and Khabib Nurmagomedov, claimed Harrison has already established herself as the best P4P female fighter we’ve ever seen enter the cage.

    “Listen, let’s make this clear today, Kayla Harrison is the pound-for-pound greatest female fighter we’ve ever seen,” said Abdelaziz. “It’s not Ronda, we’ve seen what happened to Amanda, it’s not Julianna Peña, it’s Kayla Harrison. This girl, she was born to collect gold. There’s not a woman on the planet, and some of the men too, born to beat Kayla Harrison.”

    PFL Is The “Frontrunner” For Harrison’s Signature

    Harrison has been a free agent ever since her dominant victory over Taylor Guardado at the 2021 PFL Finals last October. Having previously suggested the rising promotion would have to offer her a significantly more lucrative deal to retain her services, and after appearing at both Bellator and UFC events, it seemed an arrival on fresh land was likely.

    However, it now looks like fans could be set for another season of Harrison inside the PFL cage. During his conversation with Segura, Abdelaziz confirmed that the PFL is the frontrunner for her signature. However, he said nothing has been signed as of yet.

    “Right now, PFL is the frontrunner. I’ve seen a report that she’s signed with the PFL, that is not a correct,” asserted Abdelaziz. “She’s still a free agent. But at the end of the day, listen, PFL have been great to her. They’re being great to all of us… A couple things need to happen, and is in the process, and I think, you know, PFL is looking really good right now.”

    In another interview from Segura, Harrison herself confirmed the report, which came out a number of weeks ago. Despite revealing that the UFC had made a “good starting offer,” she suggested her immediate future will likely see her target a third PFL title and a third $1 million check.

    Do you think another season with the PFL is the best choice for Kayla Harrison’s career?

  • Jeremy Stephens Details UFC Exit & Decision To Sign With PFL

    Jeremy Stephens has explained his recent move from the UFC to PFL.

    News broke Monday that Stephens will join the 2022 PFL season, competing in their lightweight division. This comes after an incredibly extensive UFC run that lasted longer than a decade.

    Due to the surprising news of Stephens’ signing, many might have questions as to why the veteran made this move. According to Stephens himself, he claims that the move was due to how he was treated by some in the UFC. While he states his relationship with UFC President Dana White was fine, he vaguely suggested that others didn’t treat him how he wanted.

    Stephens spoke about the change in a recent appearance on The MMA Hour.

    “I just felt like after the certain situation with the push with Drakkar [Klose], a lot of people wanna blame Dana [White], Dana loves me. We have a good relationship. There’s other people in power that I feel like were icing me out, not really trying to fight me? It is what it is, kinda didn’t go that way,” said Stephens.

    “What’d you want me to say, could you have gotten me another fight, I was calling out Donald Cerrone [and] Michael Johnson was calling me out. I was calling for potential matchups in Jim Miller, Clay Guida, I’m like give me one of these guys. I still have legs, longevity the way I go out I’m still here. I’m just in a different organization now and that’s where I wanna go.

    Stephens Hopes For More Fights In PFL

    Jeremy Stephens
    Image Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

    Stephens is hopeful about his PFL run, as he sees the promotion as a place where he can get what he wants. Among those wants is having a more active fight schedule.

    “I want to go where I’m respected, where I’m gonna go in, get an opportunity and a chance and pull myself up from these losses. I can’t do that by fighting once a year and getting iced out. It’s like bro, I fight beast after beast. All I’m looking for is an opportunity and that opportunity came to PFL.”

    As for his first PFL opponent, Stephens isn’t sure yet. He said his promotional debut could be in April. That’s the same month that the PFL is set to kick off their 2022 season.

    “You know, I’m thinking end of April. I think there’s something going on. I’d like to say end of April, I don’t have a date or none of that, just stay tuned and thanks for the love.”

    Are you looking forward to Jeremy Stephens fighting in the PFL?

  • Shields Says She Wants Cejudo To Teach Her Wrestling, Cejudo Responds

    Claressa Shields is hoping former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo can teach her wrestling as she continues to fight in MMA.

    Shields is considered arguably the best pound-for-pound women’s boxer in the world, as she’s 11-0 and is the only boxer in history, female or male, to hold all four major world titles in boxing—WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO simultaneously, in two weight classes. She has had multiple titles in three different weight classes and is undisputed in two.

    However, she has been critical about boxing’s pay and how much interest they show in women, so she signed with the PFL to also fight in MMA. However, after winning her debut, she lost her second fight after being outgrappled and is now looking to turn to Cejudo to help her.

    “I want Henry Cejudo to show me how to wrestle,” Shields said.

    Henry Cejudo Responds To Shields’ Request

    Henry Cejudo saw the comments from Shields and seemed interested in taking her up on her offer, which the boxer is happy about.

    “Goats recognize goat. Maaahhhhh,” Cejudo wrote, with Shields responding with “Let’s go! I’m ready to learn!”

    It shouldn’t be a surprise to see Henry Cejudo offer to train Claressa Shields as since retiring from MMA, he has taken up a coaching role at Fight Ready. Cejudo has recruited the likes of Deiveson Figueiredo, Weili Zhang, and Jiří Procházka to Fight Ready and has been coaching all three of them, including being in Figueiredo’s corner at UFC 270.

    Cejudo is an Olympic gold medalist in wrestling and was a great wrestler in MMA, which led him to win titles in two different weight classes. His expertise would no doubt help Shields, who was taken down multiple times in both her fights. And in the second fight, wrestling was the reason she lost.

    However, if she can learn enough to just keep the fights standing, she will be dangerous, as she has power in her hands and is a phenomenal boxer overall.

    Do you think Claressa Shields and Henry Cejudo will train with one another?

  • Kayla Harrison Suggests UFC Offer Is A Case Of Bad Timing

    Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison hasn’t made up her mind on her free agency, but the UFC’s offer may now be off the table.

    Harrison earned the 2021 PFL lightweight championship after defeating Taylor Guardado in the finals. She remains undefeated in her professional MMA career after a successful tenure in Olympic Judo.

    Many believed that the UFC might’ve been the most likely destination for Harrison. This included a potential matchup with her now-former teammate Amanda Nunes for the UFC featherweight title.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Harrison explained her free agency decision process and what promotions are still under consideration.

    “I got the offer from the UFC. I know what it is. I think timing-wise, because of certain things that are gonna happen with Amanda [Nunes] and Julianna [Peña] etc…” Harrison said. “Timing is kind of everything in this sport, so PFL’s definitely the front-runner. Bellator, again, we had spoken to. I don’t know the exact details of what was said between Ali and them, but I know what I had proposed, so, it doesn’t look like that’s gonna—we’ll see.”

    Harrison was then asked whether or not Nunes’ shocking loss to Julianna Peña altered any plans she had to sign with the UFC.

    “Not really, I was bummed for my teammate that night, there’s a viral video of me screaming something like, ‘Fuck!’ But it was mostly ’cause I was in shock and bummed for her. But what Amanda does with her career has no barring on my career and I respect her, I have a ton of respect for her as a fighter, as a mom, as a human being, but my journey is my journey.”

    Recent reports indicate that Harrison is expected to re-sign with the PFL on possibly a one-year contract. This would allow her to reevaluate the landscape next year.

    Harrison has emerged as one of the most dominant fighters in MMA today and could fight on the biggest platform in the sport sooner rather than later. But for now, it appears that the UFC may be temporarily out of the Kayla Harrison sweepstakes.

    What are your predictions for Kayla Harrison in 2022?

  • PFL’s Peter Murray Claims Claressa Shields Remains Committed To MMA

    Claressa Shields will be back for the 2022 PFL season.

    Olympic gold medalist boxer Claressa Shields will be continuing her journey in the world of mixed martial arts. Shields got her start in professional MMA as a member of the 2021 Professional Fighters League 2021 season. Shields’ future in MMA was unclear following the season as she looked to return to boxing, but PFL’s chief executive Peter Murray has confirmed that she will be back to compete this year.

    “Yes, Claressa will be back [in the PFL] – she’s committed to becoming a two-sport athlete in both boxing and MMA,” Murray told BBC.com. “It’s an incredible story, Claressa is a superstar and fans will get to see how far she can go in two sports at the highest level.”

    Shields made her promotional debut in June of last year. She defeated Brittney Elkin by third-round TKO. She followed that up with another bout in October, this time she was beaten by Abigail Montes vis split division. Shields has the standup skills of a champion, but she needs to keep working on her ground skills. Despite this fact, Shields has high aspirations to keep competing at the highest level in both boxing and MMA.

    “She transcends combat sports, both boxing, and MMA,” said Murray. “Will she be a two-sport champion? That’s the story and it’s an opportunity to see her develop. That’s what the PFL is providing fans and Claressa is very humbly putting it all out there.”

    Shields is one of the most famous female boxers today. She has the support of many high-class fighters both in boxing and MMA. She recently had a high compliment from UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and has trained with Cris Cyborg in the past. She has also been on the radar of Jake Paul, the two have been feuding about a rumor that Shields asked to be placed on Paul’s undercard.

    The PFL 2022 season is set to kick off in April, with a Challenger series beginning in February. As of now, there is no confirmation on whether Shields will compete in a 2022 tournament or if she will compete in non-tournament bouts as she did in 2021.

    Do you think Claressa Sheilds has what it takes to become a champion in MMA?