PFL founder dismayed at Kayla Harrison running to "a brand to validate herself" instead of competing in "two biggest fights of her legacy"
Donn Davis has expressed disappointment in Kayla Harrison's decision to leave the organization and join the UFC. Davis believes that Harrison missed out on the "two biggest fights of her legacy" by choosing to pursue a new challenge in the UFC.
Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, made a successful transition to MMA, winning the PFL women's lightweight championship twice. However, she decided to leave the PFL earlier this year and signed with the UFC, where she has already secured a victory over former champion Holly Holm.
In an interview with MMA Today, Davis stated that he was "disappointed" that Harrison chose to leave the PFL for the UFC. He argued:
"I'm disappointed that we couldn't keep Kayla here for, what I think, are the two biggest fights of her legacy [Avenging loss to Larissa Pacheco and fighting Cris Cyborg]. I don't like that she ran from those. I don't like that she ran to a brand to validate herself."
Check out Donn Davis' comments below:
UFC veteran weighs in on Kayla Harrison's future in the UFC
Former UFC welterweight champion Matt Brown believes Kayla Harrison has the potential to dominate the women's bantamweight division.
Brown, who recently retired from MMA, expressed his admiration for Harrison's skills and believes she poses a serious threat to the current champions, Raquel Pennington and Julianna Pena. He even went so far as to say that if he were the champion, he would retire rather than face Harrison.
Appearing on the recent episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast, Brown said:
“I feel bad for the girls in that division. If I’m the champion, I’m retiring. If I’m Raquel Pennington or I’m Julianna Pena and I win the fight, I’m out. I’m pulling an Eddie Bravo here. Win the big one and I’m done.” [H/t: MMA Fighting]
Brown also acknowledged that Harrison's success will depend on her ability to maintain her weight and avoid injuries. If she can stay healthy and continue to perform at a high level, he believes she could dominate the bantamweight division for years to come.
Check out Matt Brown's interview below: