Kayla Harrison will make a quick turnaround, as the Olympic star and budding mixed martial artist returns at PFL 6.
Kayla Harrison’s next trip to the PFL cage is set. Just a week after PFL execs Carlos Silva and Ray Sefo told Cageside Press they’d have news on the Olympic medalist’s next fight soon, it appears the bout is booked. As first reported by ESPN, Harrison will return at PFL 6 on August 16 in Atlantic City, NJ. There, she’ll face Jozette Cotton, who has fought as high as welterweight, but will obviously be meeting Harrison at lightweight.
Harrison (1-0) made her promotional and professional debut at PFL 2 in June in Chicago, IL. There, she got the better of Brittney Elkin, submitting the more experienced fighter via arm-bar in the very first round. A two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo and former training partner of Ronda Rousey, plenty of expectations have been placed on Harrison, who is now in her prime at 28 years old.
All eyes will be on her again as she takes on Cotton (8-1), a vastly more experienced fighter who last competed in December at DCS 38. Cotton has never been submitted, with her lone loss going to the scorecards. She turned pro back in 2012, giving her years more experience in MMA than the judoka.
In short — the PFL isn’t giving Harrison any gimmies, but that’s really how it should be. Harrison’s Olympic pedigree should still give her an edge, and this battle will be one to watch.
