PFL CEO Donna Davis was not pleased with women’s bantamweight contender Kayla Harrison’s exit from PFL.
Harrison made a name for herself in PFL and was with the promotion for five years before her departure. The fighter went up against formidable opponents like UFC veterans Cindy Dandois and Aspen Ladd, amongst others, before she announced her exit. Davis expected the fighter to compete in a rematch against Pacheco, but the fighter took a gamble and left the promotion after her contract ended.
Davis revealed he had plans of matching up Harrison with Bellator champion Cris Cyborg but was disappointed after she chose to opt out of resigning from PFL and go along with UFC instead.
“Choice words, I wouldn’t describe it,” Davis said on Sirius XM’s MMA Today. “We brought Kayla into MMA from the Olympics. Developed her into a [17-1] star, two-time champion, and one of the greatest women [fighters], top-five in the sport today. Nothing but pride for that, and nothing but respect for Kayla. As a competitor, to build the company, I want every great fighter here. I want every fighter here. … So I’m disappointed we couldn’t keep Kayla here for, what I think, are the two biggest fights of her legacy, [and] career — avenging Pacheco and winning the championship, and beating Cyborg, who’s the greatest ever.
“I think those are the two toughest fights ahead of Kayla. But, I don’t like that she ran from those. I don’t like that, and that she ran to a brand to validate herself. And I think so highly of Kayla Harrison, she doesn’t need a brand to validate her. She’s that great. Some fighters need a brand to validate them. Some employees need a validation of a brand, some people need to wear clothes or jewelry to validate them. And other people are so strong that their actual actions and accomplishments validate themselves. That’s how highly I think of her, so that disappointed me.”
The Olympian has been having a good run since her move to the UFC. She defeated former champion Holly Holm during her debut and is set to face Ketlan Vieira at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City. PFL, on the other hand, has Cyborg and Pacheco battling out at the PPV event in Saudi Arabia.
