Kayla was in free agency at the time she started receiving offers for her next contract. However, she has found it frustrating and she wants to be back in action soon.
With expectations of a closing at any time, the PFL champion has begun to wonder if she is wasting her time in order to achieve the goals that she had set when she switched from Judo to Mixed Martial Arts.
“Unfortunately, for me timing is everything. I worry that my window to fight these women is closing slowly,” Harrison stated on The MMA Hour. It’s difficult to be patient .”
Harrison is untouched in her fighting career with a perfect 12-0 record including 10 finishes by knockout or submission.
Despite her dominance, the 31-year-old lightweight fighter can’t help but question if perhaps she waited too long to get into MMA and what it’s going to take to be considered the greatest of all time. To understand her goals, she can only look back at the past perceptions of Ronda Rousey, her Olympic teammate.
” I’ll be 100 real with you now — I’m looking at Ronda [Rousey] right now and I’m seeing what she accomplished. I also look at her star power and platform. It’s difficult,” Harrison said. “I want to change the world. I want to be the best.
“The ego in me wants everyone to know my name and to have no doubts and to say ‘damn Kayla Harrison, the best to ever do it.’ So it’s hard. It is hard not to be there. It keeps me up at night. It haunts .”
During her three year reign as UFC bantamweight champion, Rousey was not only one of the biggest stars in combat sports but she was also highly revered among her peers.
UFC President Dana White used to often refer to Rousey, a credible threat to all her opponents — men or women — as well as claim that she would defeat undefeated boxing champ Floyd Mayweather in an actual fight.
” “There was a period when people believed she would beat grown men,” Harrison stated about Rousey. “That is how dominant she was. It was like everyone thought she is the best. They were talking about her fighting dudes. I know that obviously a lot of that was skewed and a lot of that was crazy talk but I want to be that good that people are having those conversations.
“I want to be that good that people are like ‘damn, this girl could beat a grown man.’ That’s what I want. To be so much better than the rest of the crowd , I need to talk so crazy that it makes the conversation interesting
Harrison knows that her career has not been adored or accomplished to the same degree as her childhood. This is why she feels the need to get out there and do what she can.
” Harrison stated that he is not buying any hype. “I’m not reading my own press. It’s not delusional for me to believe that I am above others.
” I know there are many great fighters. I know there are fighters more skilled that me or maybe more athletic than me. I have spent more time training for the sport than anyone else. Although I don’t believe I am untouchable, I do not doubt my abilities. I want to prove the theory .”
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As of right now, all indications point towards Harrison returning back to PFL. She’s always been an imposing force in nature and has ripped through any opponent she is promoted.
If she signs a new contract with PFL, two-time Olympic champ knows that there will be questions as to her commitment to being considered the greatest in the world. She won’t be able to compete against notable champions in other organisations like Cris Cyborg in Bellator and even her former teammate Amanda Nunes.
“I really do just want to be the best,” Harrison said. Harrison said, “I have an inner desire to challenge myself and push myself to my limits.” I just want to make sure that I keep doing that and I keep pushing myself to do that. But I am not yet there.
” I don’t consider myself to be the best. It’s not that I am the best. Although I do not consider myself the best, I would like to. I would like to be the best. It’s obvious that October to now has been a lengthy layoff. I feel like this feels like forever. It’s nearly over, and it feels good. I am ready to go back into the cage and continue learning .”
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