After winning her second straight PFL tournament, Kayla Harrison is now poised to be one of the biggest free agents in MMA history. Where could the two-time Olympic gold medalist end up?
KAYLA HARRISON GETS THE FINISH!!#PFLChampionship pic.twitter.com/LxQbsHS3ZE
— PFL (@PFLMMA) October 28, 2021
In terms of development, Kayla Harrison’s MMA career has been as perfect as any fighter could wish for. Without a single MMA bout to her name, the two-time Olympic gold medalist in Judo was signed to the Professional Fighter’s League and immediately promoted as one of the faces of the company over far more experienced fighters on the roster. In her second year in the promotion, she ran roughshod over the competition and went on to win the $1 million grand prize and earned a purse exceeding far more than her contemporaries with a similar number of fights. Wednesday night, she repeated the feat and brought her record to 12-0.
Outside of her skills, Harrison has capitalized on the opportunities afforded to her. Along with a contingent of pros from American Top Team, she has featured with Dan Lambert in his foray into professional wrestling on national television on AEW. Secondly, she’s taken to the microphone after fights with more fervor than before and delivered arguably the best post-match interviews of any female fighter since Ronda Rousey.
#DanLambert of @AmericanTopTeam is here with #MenOfTheYear, @paigevanzant, @junior_cigano, @AndreiArlovski & @KaylaH – Tune in NOW to watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on @tntdrama pic.twitter.com/wTFAzaRR0Z
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) September 16, 2021
This now leads to one of the most anticipated free agencies in recent years in mixed martial arts. All major players are expected to be in play and any number of circumstances could lead to Harrison signing (or re-signing) with a promotion. Here is a breakdown of each potential landing spot and the factors that could go into the decision.
