PFL women’s lightweight champion Kayla Harrison’s free agency is over. She’s staying put.
Harrison, who fought out her PFL contract last year, has re-signed with the promotion despite receiving offers from the UFC and Bellator. Although terms were not disclosed, PFL announced it as a multiyear deal. PFL founder Donn Davis called it a “historic new contract.”
Harrison’s re-signing with PFL comes after several months of free agency in which she was highly sought after by both the UFC and Bellator. As it turned out, PFL had the right to match any offers. When Bellator made a final big push to sign her with a lucrative offer earlier this year, the PFL decided to match.
Retaining its biggest star is a big deal for the PFL. The end of free agency probably also comes as a relief to Harrison, who expressed frustration at the process in an interview with MMA Junkie last month.
“I don’t really know what’s going on,” Harrison said. “I’m getting real sick of it at this point. … Whoever wants me, I’m ready to fight. I’m ready to sign on a dotted line, get a contract, get a fight booked. I’m tired of talking about it. I’d like to find either a new home, or I’d like to talk to PFL to continue to make them my home. But I’d like to get this done sooner rather than later.”
Harrison, the undefeated American Top Team fighter and two-time Olympic gold medalist judoka, is 12-0 to start her career and has won back-to-back PFL title at 155 pounds.
Harrison recently went back-and-forth with Bellator featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, but now that PFL will continue to be her home for the foreseeable future, that potential matchup appears to be on hold.
