Tag: PFL News

Bisping: Harrison Is Open To UFC Switch After One More PFL Season

Former UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping has revealed what PFL star Kayla Harrison told him about her future while the pair sat together at UFC 268 last weekend.

Despite only making her professional debut in 2018, Harrison has developed int…

Marvin Vettori, Kayla Harrison, Michael Bisping

Former UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping has revealed what PFL star Kayla Harrison told him about her future while the pair sat together at UFC 268 last weekend.

Despite only making her professional debut in 2018, Harrison has developed into one of the most sought after stars in mixed martial arts today. Having built a career as a talented judoka, culminating in Olympic gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 games, the Ohio native transition to MMA.

Now 12 fights into her career, Harrison boasts an unblemished record that includes five knockouts and five submissions, two world titles, and two $1 million checks. Her success has come in the surging PFL promotion. In 2019, Harrison won the promotion’s first women’s lightweight tournament. After a season-break due to COVID-19, the 31-year-old looked to experience a second title crowning this year.

After first-round finishes over Mariana Morais, Cindy Dandois, and Genah Fabian, Harrison faced Taylor Guardado at the season finale last month. With a second-round armbar, the dominant lightweight secured her second PFL championship.

Is Harrison targeting A Third PFL Championship?

Harrison’s victory at PFL 10 signaled the final fight on her contract. Throughout the season and ahead of the final, most discussions surrounded what’s next for her as she entered the world of free agency as perhaps the most sought after individual in the sport’s history.

Despite initially suggesting the promotion would have to offer her life-changing money in order to retain her services, the chances of Harrison staying put for at least another year seem higher than ever. After her manager Ali Abdelaziz revealed his confidence in a deal with the PFL brass being completed, Harrison suggested she’d much rather choose the security of a new deal over the uncertainty of free agency.

The latest hint at her future appears to point towards the same sentiment. Harrison recently attended UFC 268 at Madison Square Garden, where she was sat next to the likes of Michael Bisping and middleweight contender Marvin Vettori. During a recent episode of his Believe You Me podcast, “The Count” revealed what Harrison told him about her immediate future.

“I said, ‘Oh, what’s going on? I heard you’re a free agent and you might be coming to the UFC.’ First time I met [her] by the way, nice girl. She said, ‘I don’t know.’ (LAUGHS)… She said, ‘I wanna be the best ever and I recognize that obviously there’s tremendous challenges in the UFC. I wanna, maybe, do another season with PFL, solidify myself there, get better, make some more money and then if I come over to the UFC, I’m ready for the challenge.’ Not that she said she wasn’t ready now.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

https://www.instagram.com/p/CWBODvmAhrN/?utm_source=ig_embed

Despite believing her path to greatness doesn’t have to go through the UFC, it’s hard to believe we won’t see Harrison on MMA’s biggest stage at some point in the future. However, her options certainly aren’t limited.

The PFL is undoubtedly set to bring in tougher competition for her to face if she remains with them. Meanwhile, a heated clash with Cris Cyborg could await her over in Bellator, a matchup Harrison’s admitted she hopes comes together at some point.

Do you think Kayla Harrison should stay with the PFL for another season?

Continue Reading Bisping: Harrison Is Open To UFC Switch After One More PFL Season at MMA News.

Harrison Hopes To Fight “Irrelevant” Cyborg Down The Line

Despite describing Cris Cyborg as “irrelevant” to her current journey, PFL star Kayla Harrison has revealed her desire to fight the Bellator champion down the line.

Whilst she may have only debuted in the sport in 2018, over 13 years after Cyborg’s…

Kayla Harrison, Cris Cyborg

Despite describing Cris Cyborg as “irrelevant” to her current journey, PFL star Kayla Harrison has revealed her desire to fight the Bellator champion down the line.

Whilst she may have only debuted in the sport in 2018, over 13 years after Cyborg’s first outing, Harrison has already grown into one of the most dominant and well-known mixed martial artists in the world. After winning back-to-back Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016, the judoka transitioned to MMA.

12 fights later and Harrison has built an unblemished record, finished 10 opponents, experienced championship success twice, and secured her status as perhaps combat sports’ most-sought after free agent. After seven fights, all of which took place in the surging Professional Fighters League promotion, Harrison won the 2019 PFL Women’s Lightweight Tournament.

After a sole appearance for Invicta FC following the cancelation of the 2020 PFL season due to COVID-19, Harrison returned for another title charge this year. With three first-round finishes against Mariana Morais, Cindy Dandois, and Genah fabian, the 31-year-old secured her place in a second consecutive 155-pound final. Four minutes into the second round of her high-stakes clash with Taylor Guardado in the season finale, Harrison locked in a tight armbar submission, ensuring she’d walk away with yet another piece of gold and another lucrative $1 million check.

Will Harrison’s Path To Greatness Go Through Cyborg?

Harrison’s 11th PFL appearance was the final outing of her PFL contract. Given her dominance, many expect the Ohio native to test the waters in other promotions, perhaps the UFC or Bellator MMA. During this year’s season, she’d suggested that the PFL would have to offer her a significantly better contract in order to retain her services for another year.

Whilst a move to the UFC is something many fans want to see, others have called for a Bellator switch, which could see Harrison settle her beef with former UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion Cyborg.

Cris Cyborg Scott Coker
Image Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images

The Brazilian is seemingly keen for a clash with the newest MMA sensation. Talk of it first arose when Cyborg hinted she could make 155 pounds following Harrison’s victory over Fabian. In response, the PFL star suggested making weight and being able to beat her are two very different tasks. In a later interview, Cyborg claimed Ronda Rousey was far more dangerous than Harrison is.

In an interview with ESPN MMA prior to her victory at PFL 10 this week, Harrison played a word association game with Marc Raimondi. When Cyborg game up, the judoka described her as “irrelevant,” although clarified she meant to herself rather than MMA as a whole.

“Irrelevant…I mean, of course not to MMA as a whole, she’s a pioneer like, Jesus, I’m not trying to be an asshole. I’m just saying like, to me. If it happens, it happens. I’m excited for one day squaring up against her. This whole like, her talking shit about her belts, and me talking shit about my gold medals, and everybody talking, like, we’re gonna find out someday. We’re gonna find out.”

When asked if she holds hope of a potential meeting with Cyborg down the line, Harrison suggested the prospect of facing the veteran is an exciting one, and a clash she hopes comes to fruition.

“I freakin’ hope so… Cris Cyborg, I think, is a pioneer of the sport. I think she’s accomplished a lot. I think she’s had an uphill battle to get where she is. I think she’s a very good fighter, and I think that I wanna fight her someday.”

Despite becoming a free agent, recent quotes have suggested a PFL renewal is very much on the cards for Harrison. Along with her manager Ali Abdelaziz claiming he’s confident a deal with the promotion can be agreed upon, Harrison herself admitted she has a number in mind that would force her to choose the security of a PFL deal over the uncertainty of free agency.

While it remains to be seen where her future lies, it’s clear Harrison isn’t short of options. If she chooses Bellator, it stands to reason she’ll be opposite Cyborg inside the cage sooner rather than later.

Would you like to see Kayla Harrison and Cris Cyborg face each other sometime in the future?

Continue Reading Harrison Hopes To Fight “Irrelevant” Cyborg Down The Line at MMA News.

Cris Cyborg Sends Encouragement to Claressa Shields Following First Loss

Cris Cyborg has sent some encouraging words to PFL’s Claressa Shields.

Current Bellator featherweight champion Cris Cyborg is reaching out to a fellow fighter with some praise. Cyborg took to Twitter to send some admiration to PFL fighter Claressa…

Cris Cyborg Claressa Shields

Cris Cyborg has sent some encouraging words to PFL’s Claressa Shields.

Current Bellator featherweight champion Cris Cyborg is reaching out to a fellow fighter with some praise. Cyborg took to Twitter to send some admiration to PFL fighter Claressa Shields following her loss last Wednesday night at PFL 10. The loss was the first-ever for Shields who is making the transition over to MMA from boxing.

“Keep your head up @Claressashields I love how you are young and courageous and not afraid to challenge yourself,” Cyborg wrote. “The way you’re inspiring an entire generation of women to not be afraid of greatness is what makes you so powerful!”

Shields had a very successful career in boxing before she decided to make the move over to MMA. This bout against Abigail Montes was only her second MMA bout. It was a close fight but ultimately Shields lost the split decision.

Shields trains at the popular Jackson/Wink MMA gym in Albuquerque, NM. Her training partners there consist of UFC roster fighters such as Holly Holm, Jon Jones, and Michelle Waterson. She has trained with Cyborg in the past. The two have sparred together and Cyborg has been very supportive of her quest in her MMA career. They have exchanged words on social media before.

Shields initially signed a three-year deal with Professional Fighters League, so this MMA thing is not a short-term goal. The plan was to get Shields some experience before pinning her up against top opponents in the actual featherweight season of PFL. Still, despite this setback, she could be an active member of the PFL roster and season for 2022 and be gunning for the one million dollar prize at the end of the year.

Continue Reading Cris Cyborg Sends Encouragement to Claressa Shields Following First Loss at MMA News.

Dana White Hopes Claressa Shields Knocks Out Jake Paul

Unsurprisingly, Dana White has a ton of respect for Claressa Shields and none for Jake Paul.

While Shields is currently competing for the PFL and not the UFC, White still has a tremendous amount of respect for her. In fact, after her first ever pro…

Dana White Claressa Shields

Unsurprisingly, Dana White has a ton of respect for Claressa Shields and none for Jake Paul.

While Shields is currently competing for the PFL and not the UFC, White still has a tremendous amount of respect for her. In fact, after her first ever pro defeat, dropping a split decision to Abigail Montes, he was still incredibly supportive of the pro boxing champion.

Speaking in a recent interview with MMA Fighting, White had immensely high praise for Shields, simply to cross over from boxing to MMA. Then for her to lose but have one judge thinking she won the fight, he says that is worthy of respect too.

“Nothing but respect for Claressa Shields. To be looked at as the best female boxer, and to come over here and start training and start to do this, not easy and nothing but respect for her. She lost a split decision… which is even more impressive that in her second fight she loses a split decision, which means one of the judges thought she won the fight. So nothing but respect for her, and she should just keep plugging along, keep training, and keep doing what she’s doing, and she’s a very talented, gifted athlete. Crazy that anybody’s saying anything to her,” White said.

Dana White took it a bit further when he heard that Jake Paul was one of the crazy people who was criticizing Claressa Shields. The two had been going back and forth for a while, but the UFC bossman thought it was crazy that someone with Paul’s resume would diss someone like Shields, saying that he hopes she knocked the YouTuber turned boxer out.

“(Jake Paul) better be careful. She might knock him out. She might knock him out actually, he better be careful… So Jake Paul calls Claressa Shields a loser? Claressa Shields is nothing but a winner who actually fought real people, in her own weight class, in her own age, in her own sport, and then goes over to MMA and tries to win a world title. That’s not a loser, that’s a winner. When are you going to start fighting somebody your own fucking age, your own weight, that actually fights in your own fucking sport that you’re claiming you’re in? Shut the fuck up, you goofball. For you to call Claressa Shields a loser is fucking unbelievable… I hope he runs into her somewhere and she knocks him the fuck out.”

With the amount of praise that Dana White has for Claressa Shields, it does make one wonder if he will ever try to sign her to fight in the UFC. At least that way, she does not have to worry about fighting on the undercard of a Jake Paul fight.

Continue Reading Dana White Hopes Claressa Shields Knocks Out Jake Paul at MMA News.

Nate Diaz Praises ‘Real Fighter’ Claressa Shields After PFL Defeat

Claressa Shields may have lost her fight with Abigail Montes, but she did not lose any respect from Nate Diaz. Diaz has always had some respect for Shields, especially during her recent move to MMA. In fact, prior to her MMA debut, a fight that she would end up winning in a come from behind […]

Continue Reading Nate Diaz Praises ‘Real Fighter’ Claressa Shields After PFL Defeat at MMA News.

Claressa Shields may have lost her fight with Abigail Montes, but she did not lose any respect from Nate Diaz.

Diaz has always had some respect for Shields, especially during her recent move to MMA. In fact, prior to her MMA debut, a fight that she would end up winning in a come from behind victory over Brittney Elkin in June, he watched a ton of the boxing world champion’s fights to get familiar with her style and support her heading into the contest.

In fact, even after Shields suffered defeat in her sophomore outing, getting controlled on the ground en route to a split decision loss to Montes, the younger Diaz brother has nothing but respect for her. Following this loss in the 2021 PFL Championships, he posted to his Twitter, praising Shields for being what he determines is a real fighter.

“Big shoutout to @Claressashields real fight real fighter much more props deserved ??” Diaz wrote.

This is a big compliment to Claressa Shields from someone like Nate Diaz, who does not throw around compliments very often. To put it in perspective, the last major time that he called someone a real fighter was when he was working to secure a BMF title fight with Jorge Masvidal, getting an entire belt crafted for the fight, which was then awarded by none other than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

It is fair to say that Shields is a divisive figure in the world of combat sports, with her brash and confident attitude, as well as her short temper on social media, being a point of contention among fans. That being said, she also has a ton of fans, and if Nate Diaz is a supporter of you, that says something about the type of person and fighter that you really are.

Continue Reading Nate Diaz Praises ‘Real Fighter’ Claressa Shields After PFL Defeat at MMA News.

Claressa Shields Counterpunches Jake Paul After First-Loss Trolling

Claressa Shields has responded to Jake Paul’s recent criticism following her first career MMA loss on Wednesday at the PFL Championship. Since Jake Paul has taken over the boxing world, he has come up during some of Shields’ interviews. Shields said that she would never fight on a Jake Paul undercard and also said she […]

Continue Reading Claressa Shields Counterpunches Jake Paul After First-Loss Trolling at MMA News.

Claressa Shields has responded to Jake Paul’s recent criticism following her first career MMA loss on Wednesday at the PFL Championship.

Since Jake Paul has taken over the boxing world, he has come up during some of Shields’ interviews. Shields said that she would never fight on a Jake Paul undercard and also said she would KO Paul. So after her loss, it was no surprise to see the YouTuber blast her.

“The truth hurts but it’s necessary,” Paul wrote on Twitter. “Clarissa Shields is a loser. In MMA, and even more so with her prima donna attitude. The fake always get exposed. Losses come when anger and hate take over. Just ask Rousey and McGregor. She spent more time berating Jake Paul than learning Jiu Jitsu. She’s never been a big draw and unfortunately for her she never will be. Amanda Serrano (the GWOAT) though, has 30 KOs in 42 fights. 2-0 in MMA, both wins by submission. Congrats Abigail Montes on the win.”

Claresssa Shields, Jake Paul
Claressa Shields

Now, after the loss, Claressa Shields took to her Twitter to fire back at Jake Paul. She has also since made her Twitter account private as well.

“This is funny. You come running when I lose a split decision in a while new world mma but never even once said “congrats on all you’ve done and aspire to do.” 2 things that remain Jake, I still fight better than you & you won’t accomplish 10% of what I have in boxing or life,” Shields wrote on social media. “Unlike Jake I fought a real mma fighter, he has yet to face a real boxer in boxing but Showtime will still back him though #Amerika.”

It isn’t much of a surprise to see Shields blast Paul as she has been vocal about her not liking him and what he is doing to boxing.

“I loss a split decision, I didn’t get my ass whooped  I also improved. All I’m going to do is go back to the drawing board and keep learning. No one said this journey was going To be easy. MMA is new to me, I’m fighting on a world stage after only 9 months of training. #blessed”

“The difference in last night was I’ve never had to fight or even train in a cage so damn slippery. It’s all learning & just different from boxing. I did a lot of things right last night. I just loss a split decision.”

Claressa Shields also said she will resume her undefeated boxing career in December and that she will return to MMA next year “on a different level.”

What do you make of Claressa Shields’ response to Jake Paul?

Continue Reading Claressa Shields Counterpunches Jake Paul After First-Loss Trolling at MMA News.