Why is Kayla Harrison not fighting in the PFL this year?
Two-time PFL season champion and brand ambassador, Kayla Harrison has yet to fight in 2023. Her last appearance was a losing effort in the 2022 PFL FInal against Larissa Pacheco in November. Despite winning two of the first three bouts with Pacheco, Harrison dropped a unanimous decision in the trilogy.
Rampant questions over when Harrison will return and whom her opponent would be have followed that defeat. Speculation intensified since Harrison announced there are only two fights left on her current deal ending this December and leaving her an unrestricted free agent.
Before her loss, Harrison planned on sitting out from the 2023 PFL season and instead focus training on bigger fights in the PFL Super Fight series that, as of press time, has yet to be made.
This plan changed after Harrison lost. She instead intended on returning for the 2023 run and reclaiming her top spot. But instead of another season of lightweights, the PFL created the women's featherweight division, leaving Harrison without a division to fight in.
The season wears on and Harrison has yet to fight as the calendar edges ever closer to that December expiration.
Why has the PFL chosen to shelve its biggest star, Kayla Harrison with such little time left on their current deal?
The PFL has evolved since its founding and looks to move to pay-per-view. The organization wants to promote big fights with its most popular athletes. This is why they've spent money on free agents like Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul.
A potential matchup with the legendary Cris "Cyborg" Justino has long been rumored. But it was announced this year that Justino had re-signed with Bellator.
A quadrilogy with Pacheco has been speculated for pay-per-view as well but is unlikely as Pacheco decided to compete in the 2023 season.
As of now, the lack of a set opponent, date for an event, and expensive nature of her soon to be expired deal all leave Harrison without clarity and much time for the PFL to supply some.
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