Kayla Harrison is on the verge of capturing another PFL championship but has one more opponent to take care of first.
On Oct. 27 at the 2021 PFL Championship, Harrison (11-0) will take on Taylor Guardado (3-1) in the lightweight final. If successful, Harrison will become PFL champion for the second time. Her opponent is an unlikely one, who had an incredible run to reach the final after dealing with a host of challenges in the semi-finals.
“I was interested to see how she did at 155. She’s kind of like ‘a little engine that could,’” Harrison told MMA Junkie recently. “I feel like she has forced her way to the final. She’s very deserving. She’s a game opponent. I also happen to have a lot of respect for her. We tried to do a faceoff in the cage after the fights and we were both just laughing.
“I have nothing but good things to say about her, and it’s just one of those things where this is my job and this is what I have to do. ‘The little engine that could’ is going to have her train wheels stopped in their tracks on Oct. 27.”
After taking a week off from training, Harrison will be back in the gym to begin her camp for the final. Although she enjoys fighting and loves being in the gym, the hectic schedule of the PFL season has forced her hand to stay away, at least for a short period of time.
“I will say that four fights in five and a half months is pretty aggressive, even for me,” Harrison said. “I think it’s important for me to mentally reset. I think it’s important for me to let all the bumps and bruises rest up and heal up and come back with a vengeance.
“I’m ready to train right now but it’s a long, hard season and I want to be absolutely prepared so that when I show up to training on Monday, I’m ready to give 110% every single workout.”
The 2021 PFL Championship takes place on Oct. 27 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, airing live on ESPN and ESPN +.
Watch the clip above to see Harrison talk about the matchup against Guardado, and check out the full interview in the video below.
