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The earlier 18 months have been life-altering for Kayla Harrison, just one of the most promising fighters in women’s MMA. Harrison took her niece and nephew, Kyla and Emery, into her house when her stepfather, Bob Nichols, died in Might 2020. At that time, the most significant breakout fighter in the Professional Fighters League experienced her thoughts on nearly anything but combating, and as the 2020 PFL time went by the wayside in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Harrison nevertheless had lots on her plate as she was thrust into the position of mom.
Earlier this thirty day period, Harrison officially adopted Kyla — a second the two-time Olympic judo gold medalist explained as “the most effective day of my lifetime” — and the paperwork for Harrison to adopt Emery is presently remaining processed.
In the midst of this content information, Harrison is on the brink of her 2nd $1 million PFL women’s light-weight championship. She is set to combat Taylor Guardado in the key event of the 2021 PFL Championship occasion on Wednesday in Hollywood, Florida, and she is a 30-to-1 favorite to repeat at some athletics textbooks.
From the start out of Harrison’s job in the PFL, she has been vocal about seeking to be the greatest fighter in the historical past of women’s MMA. That goal has not altered, but her tasks have amplified and evolved.
8 p.m. ET, ESPN2/ESPN+
■ Women’s lightweight championship: Kayla Harrison vs. Taylor Guardado
■ Welterweight championship: Ray Cooper III vs. Magomed Magomedkerimov
■ Claressa Shields vs. Abigail Montes
■ Heavyweight championship: Bruno Cappelozza vs. Ante Delija
■ Featherweight championship: Movlid Khaybulaev vs. Chris Wade
4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
■ Mild heavyweight championship: Antonio Carlos Jr. vs. Marthin Hamlet
■ Men’s light-weight championship: Loik Radzhabov vs. Raush Manfio
■ Omari Akhmedov vs. Jordan Younger
■ Julia Budd vs. Kaitlin Young
■ Don Madge vs. Nate Williams
There may perhaps be additional changes in advance. The women’s lightweight ultimate is the previous bout on Harrison’s PFL contract, and she will surely have multiple suitors due to the fact of her abilities, prospective and total level of popularity. And whilst the PFL is actively attempting to re-indicator her, the UFC and Bellator are probable to have interest, too.
Early in Harrison’s PFL tenure, a leap to the UFC in 2022 seemed like the natural progression. It would be the speediest route to reaching her target of being the very best at any time. But that avenue is no for a longer period a lock as Harrison’s vision for balancing her private plan has shifted, at minimum in the short-phrase.
Harrison instructed ESPN that she has “a variety in my head,” and if a promotion reaches that selling price tag — it is really in the 7 figures, she stated — that is the place she will sign.
“If I am available this quantity, I will opt for the protection of that selection about the uncertainty of free agency,” Harrison reported.
Harrison (11-) is adamant, even though, that she has not assumed considerably yet about where by she will conclusion up following 12 months. The aim, she reported, has to be on Guardado appropriate now.
“My position isn’t completed,” Harrison stated. “The work’s not accomplished. I am gonna go out there and instill my will — 1 spherical at a time, a single moment at a time, just one exchange at a time, just one breath at a time. I am gonna make Taylor give up. Which is all I definitely assume about and I know that the relaxation will function by itself out.”
With that staying mentioned, the 31-12 months-previous Harrison has embraced the actuality that the storylines heading into this bout have as significantly to do with the a lot of inquiries about her extended-expression upcoming as they do with her seeking to conquer Guardado and get $1 million for a second time.
“I labored really hard to turn into MMA’s greatest free of charge agent of all time,” Harrison mentioned. “This is not anything that just took place this 12 months. People may now just be tuning in. But I have been busting my ass considering that I was 6 years outdated to get to the issue exactly where I am the most sought-following totally free agent in the background of the sport.”
What are Harrison’s most probable options? Let us propose some odds about the place she finishes up:
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Kayla Harrison describes her evolution as a fighter ahead of her bout with Taylor Guardado in the major party at the PFL Planet Championship.
PFL: Even
Harrison’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto in a recent job interview that he spoke with PFL CEO Peter Murray and he’s assured they “will determine one thing out.” Now, that does not indicate Harrison is a lock to go back to PFL. But it is really abundantly apparent that PFL is attempting to do anything in its ability to hold her.
Very last month, PFL signed previous Bellator women’s featherweight winner Julia Budd, who has missing to only 3 fighters in her profession: Amanda Nunes, Ronda Rousey and Cris Cyborg. If you’re retaining score at home, individuals are arguably the three finest women’s MMA fighters of all time. Budd would be the hardest challenge of Harrison’s career to date if they had been to fulfill subsequent yr in PFL. And stepping up Harrison’s power of routine is a important — along with money incentives — to bringing the promotion’s major star again to the only business she has at any time fought for in MMA.
“I have no complaints with the PFL,” Harrison explained. “I am pleased combating for the PFL. I genuinely believe that in the format. I believe that this is the long term of MMA. I feel in it currently being sport-based and merit-primarily based. And I am proud of what we have built. Once more, you don’t say PFL devoid of expressing Kayla Harrison. I have been the deal with of the marketing for a when.”
Kayla Harrison is on the precipice of two significant existence situations — her 2021 PFL women’s light-weight championship struggle, and no cost agency with various prospective landing spots. Cooper Neill / PFL
UFC: +300
Not also prolonged ago, it appeared like Harrison to the UFC was a foregone conclusion. And it continue to really nicely could happen. But it is no for a longer time the slam dunk it as soon as appeared to be. The UFC scarcely has a women’s featherweight division, which is the only present pounds course that would be a fit for Harrison. There are some intriguing fights there for Harrison, towards the likes of Holly Holm or Germaine de Randamie. But each of those people ladies want to combat at bantamweight, and Harrison can not drop that small. Harrison joked to ESPN that perhaps she could make 135 lbs . for $1 million. But that’s not likely to transpire.
The opponent that would make the most perception for Harrison in the UFC would be Nunes, the women’s featherweight and bantamweight winner. There is a bit of a challenge, although, given that the two are teammates at American Prime Group in Florida, train jointly under mentor Mike Brown and are pals. Harrison would not rule out a long term battle with Nunes, but she mentioned it is really not one she wants to assume about at this juncture. Harrison and Nunes see each other every day and share tales of motherhood. It truly is not an thought that excites them and surely doesn’t thrill anybody at American Major Crew. Health club operator Dan Lambert mentioned on “The MMA Hour” final 7 days that he would “do every little thing I could to steer clear of it.”
“Of class, [the UFC is] where by the biggest of all time have fought,” Harrison claimed. “Would I like to struggle there? I consider that every fighter has their individual journey. I have my journey and I imagine there are a pair distinctive paths I could get to go down as the best, and the UFC is just one of them. But I don’t think it has to be. We’ll see.”
Kayla Harrison, the defending PFL women’s lightweight winner, is 7- in PFL common year and playoff action with five finishes. Cooper Neill / PFL
Bellator: +450
Out of all of Harrison’s possibilities, Bellator has the deepest women’s featherweight division. Harrison fights at light-weight now, but it’s clear that no make any difference what is up coming, her long run will have to be at featherweight. There are just far too couple of females in the sport who are natural lightweights. Harrison has mostly fought women who have moved up in bodyweight for PFL. Bellator, contrary to the PFL or the UFC, has a entirely stocked women’s featherweight division with a leading-10 ranking.
While Cat Zingano, Arlene Blencowe or Leslie Smith would symbolize a phase up in levels of competition from what Harrison has faced in the PFL, the combat all people would be clamoring for in Bellator is Harrison as opposed to featherweight winner Cyborg. Which is probably a person of the most significant MMA fights outside the house of the UFC that could be produced ideal now. Cyborg has missing to only one female because her professional debut in 2005 — Nunes — and has gained titles in the UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce and Invicta FC. Harrison called Cyborg a “pioneer” and has manufactured it no secret that is a struggle she wants.
“I consider she’s accomplished a whole lot,” Harrison claimed of Cyborg. “I consider she’s had an uphill struggle to get exactly where she is. I feel she’s a quite very good fighter and I feel I want to battle her someday.”
#DanLambert of @AmericanTopTeam is in this article with #MenOfTheYear, @paigevanzant, @junior_cigano, @AndreiArlovski & @KaylaH – Tune in NOW to observe #AEWDynamite Live on @tntdrama pic.twitter.com/wTFAzaRR0Z
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) September 16, 2021
All Elite Wrestling (+5,000)
This just one is a extended shot and would be a full departure from what Harrison needs — to be seen as the most effective women’s MMA fighter of all time. On top of that, Harrison has built it distinct she is not a big supporter of pro wrestling and would prefer to fight for true. In spite of that, there are some components she’d have to look at.
AEW is backed by billionaires Shad and Tony Khan, who also have the Jacksonville Jaguars. Harrison has by now appeared on AEW’s cable television programming as component of a storyline with Lambert and American Top Group invading the wrestling advertising. When she was on-monitor in front of hundreds of admirers, Harrison’s charisma arrived across extremely very well — she appeared to feed off the boos and was basically a normal.
Harrison was complimentary of the AEW group, saying she has a “newfound regard” for pro wrestling admirers. Harrison also explained to ESPN that Abdelaziz has been in talks with a pro wrestling marketing — she would not say which just one — and that Harrison and Abdelaziz have reviewed her performing it. But this seems like anything she’d do sporadically now or in the long term, if at all.
“I will not know how I come to feel about pretending to combat,” Harrison explained. “I sort of like seriously fighting. I appreciate it. But we will see. In no way say hardly ever.”
