Kayla Harrison is getting tired of all the talk about Cris Cyborg.
For nearly a year the MMA community has been buzzing about a possible superfight between Harrison, the former Olympic gold medalist, and Bellator’s featherweight champion. Things reached a fever pitch in 2021 at the expiration of Harrison’s contract with PFL. The PFL ended Harrison’s contract with the PFL and retained Harrison’s services for the future. This was after a turbulent free agency in which Harrison received offers from several organizations. Harrison has stopped talking about the fight.
“This is the reality: She’s in another promotion, I’m in a [different] promotion,” Harrison said on The MMA Hour. “She’s going to become a free agent, now it’s her job — where is she going to sign? It sounds she wants to go box, which I already knew was going to happen. So I’m not in control of that and I don’t really want to talk about it anymore. I have nothing left to say. It is what it is. I’ll fight anyone, anytime, anywhere. I am ready to take on .”
Similar in spirit to Harrison’s fight, Cyborg seems to have moved on.
Cyborg stated to MMA Fighting that her next fight will be in a boxing ring and said she doesn’t want to fight Harrison .. That being said, Cyborg is set to be a free agent this summer and could potentially pursue Harrison to the PFL, and that’s certainly what Harrison is hoping for.
” I’m not sure how the contract was written. I’m not certain if Bellator is allowed to match her. I also don’t own a copy. However, Harrison stated that he did sign on the dotted line for her fight. “And there wasn’t going to be a tune up, there wasn’t going to be an easing-in process, I was going to fight her on April 22 in Hawaii.
“PFL exercised their right of match, and I am super glad that they did. They did it and I am not disappointed. The PFL is my favorite. … But yeah, I signed a contract. Cyborg, I am not afraid. I’m also not running. Cyborg, if you’re not scared and you’re not running, come fight me here then.”
It is not clear if Cyborg will face Harrison, but two-time winner of the PFL lightweight tournament says that PFL has promised here they will make everything possible.
“I have been assured by the top of the top,” Harrison said. They want to fight! Who doesn’t? Everyone wants to see this fight. They want it, I want it, the fans want it. They’re going to do everything in their power to make this fight happen.”
Until then though, Harrison still has the 2022 PFL lightweight tournament ahead of her, which begins when she faces Marina Mokhnatkina this Friday at PFL 3, in Arlington, TX.
