Salt Lake City — Kayla Harrison wasn’t aware that the PFL had released a promo highlighting the lone loss of her pro fighting career in the hours ahead of UFC 307, until after her win against Ketlen Vieira.
She could only laugh when informed of the clip, which on the surface was designed to promote PFL double-champ Larissa Pacheco— at the expense of Harrison, likely now next in line for a UFC title shot.
The timing of this is just nasty. Kayla's years with the PFL were a huge W for the promotion. https://t.co/pVfb9oKZ88
— Jay Anders🍁n 🇨🇦 (@CageSideJay) October 5, 2024
“No, I haven’t seen it,” Harrison said with a chuckle, adding “I don’t know if you, have you seen anything promoting any PFL anything lately? So…”
If nothing else, the situation between Harrison and the PFL is starting to feel like a bad break-up. Promotion founder Donn Davis recently accused Harrison of running from fights with Pacheco (who she holds a 2-1 lead over in a trilogy of bouts under the PFL banner) and Bellator women’s featherweight champ Cris Cyborg.
Harrison’s future is at bantamweight, however, and she’s likely to hit the very top of the UFC in short order, especially if she’s granted the next title shot.
“When” she’s granted the next women’s bantamweight title shot, Harrison corrected on Saturday. Kayla Harrison was sure to add numerous “whens” to the equation, and noted that winning a UFC title in just three fights in the company will be a considerable achievement.
Speaking with Cageside Press and other media outlets following Saturday’s UFC 307 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Harrison explained that the achievement would “mean a lot” to her.
“I’ve done some pretty amazing things in my career, I want this to be another really big one. I know that I don’t have forever left as an athlete, so I want to make the most of it while I can. I’ve got a long list of sh*t I want to do in the UFC, so let’s get that title.”
Earlier in the evening, she had called her fight with Ketlen Vieira, which went the distance and wasn’t without some adversity, a opportunity to learn.
“I feel like I’m going to grow from this, tonight was a really good learning opportunity for me,” said Harrison. “Tomorrow, we’re going to go back to the house, re-watch the fight I’m sure, dissect it, and tomorrow’s a new day. Lots of room for improvement from me.”
Kayla Harrison reacts to THAT PFL promo video from earlier today, and speaks on what it would mean to win a title in three UFC fights. #UFC307
🎥 @dnapoleonemma pic.twitter.com/P0X6Kol2sI
— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) October 6, 2024
Watch the full UFC 307 post-fight press conference appearance by Kayla Harrison above.
