Kayla Harrison is the face of the PFL as she has run through the women’s lightweight tournament and is a free agent after this season.
Harrison will likely cash another million-dollar cheque this year and after that, many believe she will sign with the UFC. However, on Thursday, PFL revealed they signed Julia Budd, the former Bellator featherweight champion to compete in the tournament next season which Harrison says is a great signing.
“That’s great for the PFL,” Harrison told MMA Junkie. “I think it’s awesome they’re continuing to build their women’s division, and she’s obviously a Bellator champion, former champion, and it’s a great signing.”
If Harrison re-signs with the PFL, a fight against Budd in the finals would be massive. It would be the toughest test of Harrison’s career but it’s uncertain she will even come back. If she does, Harrison says she would be open to the fight as she says it is exciting, but she knows she has to handle her own free agency first before she looks at that fight.
“I think I’ve watched her fight before, of course,” Harrison said. “She’s a bit of a bigger name in the sport, but I didn’t know they signed her. I’m not privy to these conversations. I’ve said it many times, I’ll fight whoever is in front of me, I don’t really care. I think it’s an exciting fight. I look forward to competing against her one day if the stars align. And if not, I wish her the best of luck in her PFL career.”
Kayla Harrison is set to headline the PFL finals on October 27 against Taylor Guardado. Many expect Harrison to rout the 3-1 fighter and be 12-0 entering free agency. Budd, meanwhile, will make her PFL debut on that same card against Kaitlin Young in a non-tournament bout which will have some intrigue.
