“Put you on your back and mess you up!” UFC new-signing Kayla Harrison once claimed she could takedown Israel Adesanya

After dominant win at PFL 8, Kayla Harrison made an incredibly bold claim.

“Put you on your back and mess you up!” UFC new-signing Kayla Harrison once claimed she could takedown Israel Adesanya

Kayla Harrison, who faces Holly Hom at UFC 300, once had a brazen takedown claim (espn.co.uk/pflmma.com)

The scuffle between combat sports promotion analogs UFC and PFL is not new. With its acquisition of a majority hold on Bellator MMA, the latter recently boasted equalling Dana White‘s (and Co.) UFC roster. Much has transposed between the two over the years. Now, the latest hiccup favors White, however. Former PFL champion and Olympic medal winner Kayla Harrison transitions to the promotion at UFC 300. She locks horns with Holly Holm.

The two-time Judo gold medalist was considerably one of the biggest names in her old promotion. The 16-1 PFL star once confidently boasted of taking down former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya; infamous for his elite takedown defense. Here’s what she said at her post-fight interview once:

Scientists, you kept talking about scientists, scientists at City Kickboxing...Izzy couldn't stop my takedowns! Listen! Everyone keeps saying, oh how do you solve the Kayla Harrison puzzle, how do you beat her… Spoiler alert! There's no fricking puzzle, I put you on your back and I mess you up. I told you one by one, they're all gonna fall...
Kayla Harrison said
YouTube video

She entered her second PFL playoff and defeated Genah Fabian in the first round of the 2021 PFL Women’s Lightweight Finals. Harrison dominated the opposition in PFL 8 and improved to 11-0. ‘The Last Stylebender’ trains at City Kickboxing in Auckland, New Zealand. Just like Harrison’s former opponent Fabian.

The prospect of taking on Holm (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) on the historic UFC 300 fight card has instigated ripples in the MMA bubble. Recently, The MMA Hour‘s Ariel Helwani addressed Harrison’s contractual commitments with 1 PFL bout remaining. However, UFC is undeniably in the gain with the signing.

PFL finally goes on the record on Kayla Harrison’s move to Dana White’s UFC despite Cris Cyborg fight

PFL CEO Peter Murray wishes Kayla Harrison every success in her next venture with UFC. Harrison has decided to sign a contract with the UFC after six years with the promotion. She squares off with Holly Holm next, in her debut outing. The bantamweight bout takes place April 13 at UFC 300 in Las Vegas.

PFL opens up about Kayla Harrison's transition to UFC
PFL opens up about Kayla Harrison’s transition to UFC (Source: mmanews.com/Twitter)

Conversely, though, she had a super fight brewing before her departure. Even before PFL acquired Bellator MMA, she and Chris Cyborg were expectant rivals. However, that did not come to pass.

And here’s what Murray had to say on the matter:

We’re disappointed that fight between Cyborg and Kayla did not happen...Kayla chose not to make it happen and move on to her next chapter....We had the fight that matters – the fight that matters most. Ultimately, Kayla made a decision to move on...We are supportive of Kayla...
Peter Murray said

Murray left it unclear what happened to Harrison’s PFL contract, which, according to PFL co-founder Donn Davis, had one hashout remaining. Consequently, though, both PFL management and fight fans look forward to Harrison’s UFC debut.

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