Tag: PFL News

Kayla Harrison Admits Sadness At Estranged Relationship With Rousey

Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison has admitted she’s saddened by her broken relationship with former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. While Rousey has left the sport after holding gold on its biggest stage and pioneering the rise of female MMA into the mainstream, Harrison is currently forging her own legacy inside the cage. After…

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Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison has admitted she’s saddened by her broken relationship with former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.

While Rousey has left the sport after holding gold on its biggest stage and pioneering the rise of female MMA into the mainstream, Harrison is currently forging her own legacy inside the cage.

After transitioning to MMA following two gold medal triumphs at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, Harrison made a splash in the rising PFL promotion. Now approaching her fourth year in the sport, the 31-year-old sits as the most sought-after free agent in the game after back-to-back championships in 2019 and 2021.

But while Harrison continues to pummel her competition and perhaps gets set for a move to the UFC or Bellator, she’s creating her success in the sport without former friend Rousey by her side.

During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Marc Raimondi, Harrison discussed her current relationship with Rousey, whom she was roommates and good friends with when the pair were part of the US judo team together over a decade ago, long before “Rowdy” gained celebrity status.

After admitting that they aren’t friends anymore, Harrison suggested the turn of events is saddening, especially given how Rousey helped her during the Ohio native’s teen years.

“No, I think we kinda are like, I don’t think we’re friends anymore. I don’t know. We’re estranged, that’s the perfect word,” Harrison said. “We were roommates, you know. We traveled the world together at one point. She was buying me groceries cause I was a poor 16-year-old with like, five bucks in my account. So, at one point I really looked up to her and we were close. So, it is sad.”

Harrison Comments On Rousey’s WWE Return

Since her invincibility inside the Octagon was crushed by a Holly Holm head kick in 2015 and an Amanda Nunes onslaught in 2016, Rousey has pursued ventures outside of MMA. That’s included a transition to the art of professional wrestling.

She made her first WWE appearance early in 2018 before debuting at the company’s showcase event, WrestleMania, later in the year. After winning the Raw Women’s Championship and holding it for 231 days, the 35-year-old’s contract expired.

After taking time away, a period that included the birth of her first child, Rousey returned to the ring last month.

During her interaction with ESPN, Harrison reacted to her former roommate’s return to her “fake thing.” She also shut the door on a potential reunion with “Rowdy” on the pro wrestling circuit.

“I heard she’s back to, ‘Be nice Kayla…’ She’s back to doing her thing, her fake thing [LAUGHS]… Can you imagine if I joined her (in WWE)? … We’d beat the men. Like, legit. It’s never gonna happen,” Harrison stated.

While Rousey begins another stint with WWE, Harrison will be hoping to confirm her immediate future and next destination soon as she gears up for a targeted spring return to the cage.

It initially appeared another season with the PFL was leading the charge. But an apparent breakdown in negotiations has left the door wide open. Having met with UFC officials in previous months, perhaps we’ll see Harrison pursue similar success to Rousey on MMA’s biggest stage soon enough.

Do you think Kayla Harrison can surpass Ronda Rousey’s achievements and legacy in the sport of MMA?

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Shields Faults “Egos” For Other Boxers’ Lack Of Success In MMA Challenge

Decorated boxer Claressa Shields has many accomplishments, including being a boxing champion to have competed and win an MMA match. The list of accolades continues to grow for “T. Rex.” By age 26, Claressa Shields has taken home Olympic gold twice, won numerous boxing championships across weight classes, and now sports a win in the…

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Decorated boxer Claressa Shields has many accomplishments, including being a boxing champion to have competed and win an MMA match.

The list of accolades continues to grow for “T. Rex.” By age 26, Claressa Shields has taken home Olympic gold twice, won numerous boxing championships across weight classes, and now sports a win in the PFL.

Claressa Shields
Claressa Shields, Photo Credit: Stephanie Trapp

Shields won her MMA debut by TKOing Brittney Elkin, then she went on to her next match a few months later.

Though the undefeated boxer fought hard, she took the first loss of her professional fighting career via split decision against Abigail Montes.

She still considers herself “The Greatest Woman Of All Time” and prides herself on stepping up to the challenge of MMA. Currently a lone wolf in her acts, Shields blames “egos” for other boxers not following suit.

“Ego, men have a lot of egos, a lot of boxers have egos. They want to be great at what they’re great at and the minute they’re faced with something uncomfortable or abnormal, they don’t want to do it,” Shields explains to SunSport.

Many boxers tried their hand at mixed martial arts. Famous names in the realm of boxing such as James Toney, and Ricardo Mayorga made an effort in the sport. While revered boxing champions, they both met failure in their MMA debuts and retired from the sport.

Notably, former boxer and UFC veteran LaVerne Clark saw success in MMA. He won his UFC debut, and from 1998 to 1999, won 9 fights in a row, mostly by TKO.

In recent years, no other boxing champions besides Shields has made an attempt at mixed martial arts. It’s been over 10 years since fellow boxing legend Holly Holm set out on her MMA journey, in which she became UFC women’s bantamweight champion.

Ten facts about Holly Holm
Holly Holm, Image Credit: Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Image

Undoubtedly, some fighters fear their perfect records being tarnished by a loss. However, Shields plans to take her MMA career all the way to the top.

A championship belt in MMA may be the toughest challenge of her combat career, but she refuses to back down.

“It’s unprecedented, it’s never been done before and that’s what people want to see, extraordinary things. And the fact that I’m willing to put my reputation, my record, put everything on the line to achieve the PFL world title, it shows my character,” Calaressa continues.

From the Olympics to boxing to MMA, Shields proves her tenacity is unmatched.

She currently dominates women’s lightweight boxing; undefeated at 12-0. And on February 5, she rebounded from her MMA loss with a unanimous decision boxing win against Ema Kozin.

Shields plans to reappear in the PFL in 2023 to continue her legacy. Perhaps Shields will start a trend of professional boxers turned successful MMA fighters.

Are you excited for Claressa Shields’s next MMA bout?

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Claressa Shields Revisits Then Drops Jake Paul Beef While Giving Him Credit

Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields spoke on conflict with Jake Paul and seemed willing to drop their beef. Since 2016, Claressa “T. Rex” Shields has dominated women’s boxing. She is the first American boxer to win consecutive Olympic medals and has won multiple world championships in three separate weight classes. 12-0 in her professional boxing […]

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Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields spoke on conflict with Jake Paul and seemed willing to drop their beef.

Since 2016, Claressa “T. Rex” Shields has dominated women’s boxing. She is the first American boxer to win consecutive Olympic medals and has won multiple world championships in three separate weight classes.

Claressa Shields
Claressa Shields, Photo Credit:  STEPHANIE TRAPP/ TRAPPFOTOS/ SHOWTIME

12-0 in her professional boxing career, Claressa Shields is easily a revered champion. And in 2021, the superstar made a switch to mixed martial arts.

She won her MMA debut against Brittney Elkin by TKO at PFL 4 last June. However, later in the year, Shields lost via split decision against Abigail Montes, and immediately following that loss, Jake Paul had a few choice words.

“The only beef I have with Jake Paul is don’t ever disrespect me, you know what I’m sayin’? Like, he tried to kick me when I was down and also going into a new sport,” Shields said in an interview with TMZ Sports. “I lost a split decision. I didn’t get submitted, I didn’t get knocked out, I didn’t get beat up, it was a split. And I’m also brand new at MMA. And when he made that comment, calling me a loser and stuff, that’s what really made me want to fight him.

“And then it’s like, you can’t call me a loser because you don’t box better than me and you damn sure don’t do MMA better than me. You don’t do nothing better than me. That’s it. To kick somebody while they’re down but never give them their props when they’re up, that was kinda wack to me and that’s why I didn’t have no respect for him,” Shields explains on TMZ Sports.

But their beef between them did not start there. Claressa Shields claims undefeated Jake Paul would be an easy opponent for her and requested a sparring match. She later threatened to sue Paul and his team for claiming that she had requested to be on Paul’s undercard.

Claressa Shields & Jake Pau Squash Beef

On January 7, Paul took to Twitter to squash their disagreement.

“Let’s put this behind us and work together to continue to build women’s boxing,” Paul tweeted.

Recently, Jake Paul helped promote a highly anticipated boxing match between undisputed champions Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor, which Shields expressed an appreciation for and thus met Paul halfway in his olive-branch extension.

“But now, I just wish him the best,” Shields said. “I wish him the best. If he ever wanna spar, it’s always up in the air. It’s always an option. Because I do owe him a couple blows,” Shields said half-jokingly. “But other than that, I think what he’s doing for Amanda is great. I think him getting involved in helping the fight with Katie Taylor getting made is great for Amanda, and Katie, and it’s great for women’s boxing. So I appreciate him for that,” Shields continued.

Considering women’s boxing is a high priority for both athletes, perhaps their quarrel can now be swept under the rug.

Do you think this is the end of the Claressa Shields and Jake Paul beef?

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Quote: Harrison Is P4P Best Female Fighter Ever, Not Rousey/Nunes

According to Dominance MMA Management CEO Ali Abdelaziz, Kayla Harrison is the pound-for-pound greatest female fighter of all time. In the space of three-and-a-half years, Harrison has rapidly grown from a newcomer to the sport to the hottest free agent in MMA. In doing so, she’s collected 12 wins, including five by knockout and five […]

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According to Dominance MMA Management CEO Ali Abdelaziz, Kayla Harrison is the pound-for-pound greatest female fighter of all time.

In the space of three-and-a-half years, Harrison has rapidly grown from a newcomer to the sport to the hottest free agent in MMA. In doing so, she’s collected 12 wins, including five by knockout and five by submission, two PFL world championships, and a handsome $2 million in prize money.

Having added those accolades to her already illustrious career in combat sports, which includes back-to-back Olympic gold medals at London 2012 and in Rio de Janeiro four years later, the 31-year-old has quickly entered the female GOAT conversation, at least according to her manager.

While some believe she first has to prove herself in the UFC before surpassing the likes of former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and former two-division titleholder and reigning featherweight queen Amanda Nunes, Harrison’s manager sees things differently.

During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura, Abdelaziz, who also manages the likes of Kamaru Usman, Henry Cejudo, Justin Gaethje, and Khabib Nurmagomedov, claimed Harrison has already established herself as the best P4P female fighter we’ve ever seen enter the cage.

“Listen, let’s make this clear today, Kayla Harrison is the pound-for-pound greatest female fighter we’ve ever seen,” said Abdelaziz. “It’s not Ronda, we’ve seen what happened to Amanda, it’s not Julianna Peña, it’s Kayla Harrison. This girl, she was born to collect gold. There’s not a woman on the planet, and some of the men too, born to beat Kayla Harrison.”

PFL Is The “Frontrunner” For Harrison’s Signature

Harrison has been a free agent ever since her dominant victory over Taylor Guardado at the 2021 PFL Finals last October. Having previously suggested the rising promotion would have to offer her a significantly more lucrative deal to retain her services, and after appearing at both Bellator and UFC events, it seemed an arrival on fresh land was likely.

However, it now looks like fans could be set for another season of Harrison inside the PFL cage. During his conversation with Segura, Abdelaziz confirmed that the PFL is the frontrunner for her signature. However, he said nothing has been signed as of yet.

“Right now, PFL is the frontrunner. I’ve seen a report that she’s signed with the PFL, that is not a correct,” asserted Abdelaziz. “She’s still a free agent. But at the end of the day, listen, PFL have been great to her. They’re being great to all of us… A couple things need to happen, and is in the process, and I think, you know, PFL is looking really good right now.”

In another interview from Segura, Harrison herself confirmed the report, which came out a number of weeks ago. Despite revealing that the UFC had made a “good starting offer,” she suggested her immediate future will likely see her target a third PFL title and a third $1 million check.

Do you think another season with the PFL is the best choice for Kayla Harrison’s career?

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Jeremy Stephens Details UFC Exit & Decision To Sign With PFL

Jeremy Stephens has explained his recent move from the UFC to PFL. News broke Monday that Stephens will join the 2022 PFL season, competing in their lightweight division. This comes after an incredibly extensive UFC run that lasted longer than a decade. Due to the surprising news of Stephens’ signing, many might have questions as […]

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Jeremy Stephens has explained his recent move from the UFC to PFL.

News broke Monday that Stephens will join the 2022 PFL season, competing in their lightweight division. This comes after an incredibly extensive UFC run that lasted longer than a decade.

Due to the surprising news of Stephens’ signing, many might have questions as to why the veteran made this move. According to Stephens himself, he claims that the move was due to how he was treated by some in the UFC. While he states his relationship with UFC President Dana White was fine, he vaguely suggested that others didn’t treat him how he wanted.

Stephens spoke about the change in a recent appearance on The MMA Hour.

“I just felt like after the certain situation with the push with Drakkar [Klose], a lot of people wanna blame Dana [White], Dana loves me. We have a good relationship. There’s other people in power that I feel like were icing me out, not really trying to fight me? It is what it is, kinda didn’t go that way,” said Stephens.

“What’d you want me to say, could you have gotten me another fight, I was calling out Donald Cerrone [and] Michael Johnson was calling me out. I was calling for potential matchups in Jim Miller, Clay Guida, I’m like give me one of these guys. I still have legs, longevity the way I go out I’m still here. I’m just in a different organization now and that’s where I wanna go.

Stephens Hopes For More Fights In PFL

Jeremy Stephens
Image Credit: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Stephens is hopeful about his PFL run, as he sees the promotion as a place where he can get what he wants. Among those wants is having a more active fight schedule.

“I want to go where I’m respected, where I’m gonna go in, get an opportunity and a chance and pull myself up from these losses. I can’t do that by fighting once a year and getting iced out. It’s like bro, I fight beast after beast. All I’m looking for is an opportunity and that opportunity came to PFL.”

As for his first PFL opponent, Stephens isn’t sure yet. He said his promotional debut could be in April. That’s the same month that the PFL is set to kick off their 2022 season.

“You know, I’m thinking end of April. I think there’s something going on. I’d like to say end of April, I don’t have a date or none of that, just stay tuned and thanks for the love.”

Are you looking forward to Jeremy Stephens fighting in the PFL?

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Shields Says She Wants Cejudo To Teach Her Wrestling, Cejudo Responds

Claressa Shields is hoping former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo can teach her wrestling as she continues to fight in MMA. Shields is considered arguably the best pound-for-pound women’s boxer in the world, as she’s 11-0 and is the only boxer in history, female or male, to hold all four major world titles […]

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Claressa Shields is hoping former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo can teach her wrestling as she continues to fight in MMA.

Shields is considered arguably the best pound-for-pound women’s boxer in the world, as she’s 11-0 and is the only boxer in history, female or male, to hold all four major world titles in boxing—WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO simultaneously, in two weight classes. She has had multiple titles in three different weight classes and is undisputed in two.

However, she has been critical about boxing’s pay and how much interest they show in women, so she signed with the PFL to also fight in MMA. However, after winning her debut, she lost her second fight after being outgrappled and is now looking to turn to Cejudo to help her.

“I want Henry Cejudo to show me how to wrestle,” Shields said.

Henry Cejudo Responds To Shields’ Request

Henry Cejudo saw the comments from Shields and seemed interested in taking her up on her offer, which the boxer is happy about.

“Goats recognize goat. Maaahhhhh,” Cejudo wrote, with Shields responding with “Let’s go! I’m ready to learn!”

It shouldn’t be a surprise to see Henry Cejudo offer to train Claressa Shields as since retiring from MMA, he has taken up a coaching role at Fight Ready. Cejudo has recruited the likes of Deiveson Figueiredo, Weili Zhang, and Ji?í Procházka to Fight Ready and has been coaching all three of them, including being in Figueiredo’s corner at UFC 270.

Cejudo is an Olympic gold medalist in wrestling and was a great wrestler in MMA, which led him to win titles in two different weight classes. His expertise would no doubt help Shields, who was taken down multiple times in both her fights. And in the second fight, wrestling was the reason she lost.

However, if she can learn enough to just keep the fights standing, she will be dangerous, as she has power in her hands and is a phenomenal boxer overall.

Do you think Claressa Shields and Henry Cejudo will train with one another?

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