PFL CEO accuses Kayla Harrison of running from Cris Cyborg and Pacheco

Donn Davis continues to specific his frustration in direction of Kayla Harrison’s departure from PFL.

Harrison (17-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) signed with the UFC in early 2024, and made large waves in her octagon debut. She dominated Holly Holm en path to a Spherical 2 submission within the promotion’s historic UFC 300 occasion in April.

The PFL CEO needed to see Harrison stick round to attempt to avenge her setback to Larissa Pacheco, who handed her the primary lack of her profession. Harrison had already overwhelmed Pacheco twice earlier than.

After PFL acquired Bellator, Davis was additionally excited at the opportunity of matching Harrison up with Bellator champion Cris Cyborg, however Harrison opted to signal with the UFC.

“We introduced Kayla into MMA from the Olympics, developed her into an 18-1 star, two-time champion, and one of many biggest girls, prime 5 within the sport in the present day,” Davis advised MMA Immediately. “(I’ve) nothing however delight for that and nothing however respect for Kayla as a competitor. To construct the corporate, I need each nice fighter right here.

“I’m disenchanted that we couldn’t maintain Kayla right here for, what I believe, are the 2 greatest fights of her legacy and her profession: avenging Pacheco and successful the championship, and beating Cyborg, who’s the best ever. I believe these are the 2 hardest fights forward of Kayla. I don’t like that she ran from these. I don’t like that she ran to a model to validate herself. I believe so extremely of Kayla Harrison. She doesn’t want a model to validate her. She’s that nice. .. In order that disenchanted me.”

Harrison will look to emerge as No. 1 contender at bantamweight when she takes on Ketlen Vieira (14-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC 307 (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+) primary card at Delta Middle in Salt Lake Metropolis.

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 307.