Cris Cyborg is still on board for a cross-promotional class with two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison.
While Cyborg continues to reign supreme as the Bellator featherweight champion, Harrison is learning to cope with the first setback of her mixed martial arts career. Stepping into her third-straight PFL championship bout in November, Harrison fell short of the trifecta, losing to division rival Larissa Pacheco via unanimous decision. Discussing her thoughts on Harrison’s first loss with Mike Owens in a MiddleEasy exclusive, Cyborg said:
“It was a great fight. I was feeling like Pacheco was going to win that fight if she really defends the takedowns of Kayla and this happened in the fight. Kayla had some good in the fight too, but Larissa was really wary and defended the takedown. I think it was a great fight.”
Despite Harrison suffering her first defeat, Cyborg still sees value in a potential matchup between the two of them as part of a cross-promotional event between Bellator and the Professional Fighters League.
“I think even before [the loss], a lot of things have to be working for it to happen and maybe we can do it in Bellator with a cross-promotion. I know she has two fights left in her contract. Maybe she’ll get a rematch. Maybe she’ll do another fight and maybe this fight can happen, but I never talked to PFL. I know they put a lot of things online, but we’ve never met in person to talk and discuss about anything.”
Fans want the fight
Fighters want the fight
I have watched and listened … @PFLMMA will provide all money and handle all matters @KaylaH v @criscyborg
$1M each fighter + $2M winner bonus
PPV Super Fight … no more talk … decide the best inside the cage#KaylaCyborg
— Donn Davis (@DonnDavisPFL) August 10, 2022
Cris Cyborg Says Bellator’s Relationship With RIZIN Shows The Organization is Willing to Co-Promote an Event
PFL founder and chairman Donn Davis has called for a clash between the two women warriors more than once on social media, suggesting that the losing side covers the production costs of the event. In August, Davis once again fanned the flames of a potential showdown, offering each fighter a guaranteed $1 million fight purse plus an additional $2 million to the winner. Cyborg simply laughed off the offer but believes that the two fight organizations could work out an arrangement, similar to how Bellator and RIZIN will come together this weekend for an event pitting their top fighters against one another.
“Bellator can do cross-promotion. We do it now in Japan with RIZIN. It’s gonna be great. Shoutout to AJ [McKee] and all the fighters who are going to be fighting. I shoutout for everyone there. Bellator has a good relationship with everyone and they can do a great fight for the fans and for sure, this can happen if they would really like to make it happen.”
With Kayla Harrison’s loss in the 2022 PFL Championship, are you still interested in seeing her step inside the cage with Cris Cyborg?
