Meet MMA’s Most Expensive Female Fighter

Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, who recently closed the book on her Octagon career, was under the impression that Scott Coker signed her to a record-breaking contract for Bellator MMA.

Not quite.

While the Brazilian may be the highest paid female fighter for the Viacom-owned promotion, Professional Fighters League (PFL) lays claim to the priciest gal in town, according to Olympic gold medalist and undefeated lightweight, Kayla Harrison.

“They take such good care of me. I’m probably the highest-paid female fighter in MMA right now,” Harrison told MMA Fighting. “I just can’t believe it’s my life sometimes. It’s a no brainer for me. I get to fight for a company that I believe in. My destiny is in my hands. I’m getting paid a ridiculous amount of money and I still get to grow as a fighter. My life could not have worked out better.”

Harrison, 29, has competed exclusively for PFL since turning pro back in June 2018, racking up six straight wins with five nasty finishes. The only knock on her career to date has been her level of competition, which may not stand up to the talent in UFC or Bellator.

The judo wunderkind returns to the cage tomorrow night (Dec. 31) for PFL’s New Year’s Eve supershow in New York, where she’ll look to win her rematch against UFC import Larissa Pacheco. Harrison topped the Brazilian by unanimous decision back in May.