Kayla Harrison’s hopes of fighting a second time in 2020 have been dashed.
The PFL lightweight champ was expected to take part in a rematch with Jozette Cotton at Titan FC 66 on Thursday. However, a badly failed weight cut by Cotton has left Harrison without a fight — and Cotton hospitalized, at least briefly.
The pair were expected to weigh in at 155lbs for the rematch of their August 2018 meeting under the PFL banner, which Harrison won via third round TKO. However, at weigh-in Wednesday, Cotton was unable to get below a whopping 180lbs, and was later hospitalized for dehydration.
Cotton (8-2) never actually officially stepped on the scale, and halted her weight cut when she was unable to get anywhere near the 155lb limit.
MyMMANews was first to report the fight being off. ESPN, citing Titan FC COO Lex McMahon, revealed the Cotton had informed the promotion of her inability to get below 180lbs prior to her hospitalization.
Missing weight by 25lbs is probably up there among the worst flubs at the scales in MMA history, even if Cotton never officially weighed in. In the meantime, Harrison goes without a fight, after offers to take the fight anyway, and to weigh in again at 165lbs, were rejected by the Florida athletic commission.
Cotton has not competed in MMA since her fight with Harrison in 2018. Kayla Harrison (8-0), meanwhile, remains unbeaten, and competed at 145lbs for the first time last month under the Invicta FC banner. The PFL star has essentially been on loan with the league shutting down for 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Professional Fighters League is expected to return to action in 2021, with Harrison once again taking part in the lightweight tournament.
