‘Disappointed’ PFL claims Kayla Harrison ‘ran’ from Cyborg in desperate attempt for brand validation | UFC 307

Donn Davis is disappointed.

The PFL chairman was hoping to keep Kayla Harrison on the promotion’s roster (like it did in 2022), where the two-time Olympic gold medalist could bolster her legacy with a pair of super fights against MMA legend Cris Cyborg and longtime nemesis Larissa Pacheco.

Instead, Harrison “ran” to UFC to “validate herself.”

“We brought Kayla in from the Olympics, developed her into an 18-1 star, two-time champion, and one of the greatest women — Top 5 in the sport today,” Davis told MMA Today. “Nothing but pride for that and nothing but respect for Kayla. As a competitor, to build the company, I want every great fighter here. I’m disappointed that we couldn’t keep Kayla here for, what I think, are the two biggest fights of her legacy and her career.”

Harrison signed with UFC — as a bantamweight — back in January.

“Avenging Pacheco and winning the championship and beating Cyborg who is the greatest ever, I think those are the two toughest fights ahead of Kayla,” Davis continued. “I don’t like that she ran from those. I don’t like that she ran to a brand to validate herself. I think so highly of Kayla Harrison, she doesn’t need a brand to validate her. She’s that great … so that disappointed me.”

Davis has a Rolls Royce but no one to drive it.

Harrison (17-1) made her Octagon debut at UFC 300 back in April, finishing former bantamweight champion Holly Holm with a second-round submission. The 34 year-old judoka will return to action as part of the UFC 307 pay-per-view (PPV) event on Sat. night (Oct. 5, 2024) in Salt Lake City, battling Brazilian bruiser Ketlen Vieira.

A victory in “The Beehive State” is likely to earn Harrison the next 135-pound title shot.

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Championship Doubleheader! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will stage a once-in-a-lifetime pay-per-view (PPV) extravaganza on Sat., Sept. 14, 2024, to honor Mexican Independence Day during Riyadh Season, an unlikely mashup topped by the Bantamweight main event between reigning champion, Sean O’Malley, and sliced-and-diced No. 1 contender Merab Dvalishvili. In UFC 306’s championship co-headliner, current Flyweight titleholder, Alexa Grasso, will settle her score with fellow Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 32 coach, Valentina Shevchenko, in the final fight of their epic 125-pound trilogy. UFC 306’s PPV main card (see it here) will also feature Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes, Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Aoriqileng, and so much more! It’s must-watch action from “Sin City!” UFC 306’s start time is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET (Prelims card) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV main card).

Don’t miss a single second of EPIC face-punching action!

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 307 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPNN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 307: “Pereira vs. Rountree Jr.” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 307 fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.