We may be seeing the last of Kayla Harrison competing under the PFL season format.
The two-time PFL women’s lightweight winner and two-time Olympic judo gold medalist was successful in her return to the cage when she defeated Martina Jindrova (6-3) in quick and dominant fashion in the main event of Saturday’s 2022 PFL Playoffs 3 in London. Harrison (15-0) now heads to her third consecutive PFL final, which she thinks will be her last.
“I have two more fights on my contract after this next fight,” Harrison said post-fight to MikeOwensMedia. “I think this will be my last season, but I’m still going to fight with the PFL.
“Also, I think it’s time for me to pass the torch. We saw Dakota (Ditcheva) tonight, and she had an amazing fight. She’s an up-and-coming fighter. I’m super excited to watch her build the division and to be the next generation.
“That’s what it’s about. I’m standing on the shoulders of giants and on women who helped make this possible for me, and I want these young women to do the same. I want them to stand on my shoulders and continue to grow the sport and change the game.”
PFL plans to launch pay-per-views in 2023 and Harrison is a big part of those plans. Harrison thinks that’s where her future will be with the PFL.
In terms of this season, the 32-year-old is now set to take on Brazil’s Larissa Pacheco, whom she holds two previous wins over. Harrison says there’s no rivalry or bad blood, but is determined to put away Pacheco.
If this is truly Harrison’s last run under the PFL season format, she hopes to go out with a bang and would love to see the PFL remove the ban on the use of elbows.
“I think what would make a great difference in this fight and what everyone wants to see, it’s some elbows,” Harrison said. “I think we should have elbows in the final.”