Cris Cyborg knew Kayla Harrison would re-sign with PFL, still believes fight could happen

LOS ANGELES – Despite Kayla Harrison re-signing with PFL, Cris Cyborg isn’t ruling out the possibility of fighting her some day.

Bellator featherweight champion Cyborg (25-2) and reigning PFL lightweight champ Harrison (12-0) went back and forth while Harrison tested free agency. Bellator made Harrison a lucrative offer that she signed, but the two-time Olympic gold medal-winning judoka ended up staying in her original promotion after the PFL matched it.

With Bellator president Scott Coker always willing to co-promote and PFL founder and chairman Donn Davis issuing a challenge, Cyborg could see a potential fight still happening down the road.

“I was thinking she was gonna go back to PFL,” Cyborg told MMA Junkie. “I think all the things, she go everywhere, it’s like promotion. Hey, you have to be smart. Who’s gonna pay better? … So I believe this fight will happen in the future, maybe gonna happen (now), but I just have to focus on Arlene and wait to see what’s gonna be next.”

Cyborg is set to rematch Arlene Blencowe (15-8) in the main event of Bellator 279 on April 23. Harrison, meanwhile, will face Marina Mokhnatkina (6-2) in the women’s lightweight main event of 2022 PFL 3 on May 6.

Although unbeaten Harrison has torn through competition so far, Cyborg thinks she’d be a whole different level for her if they fought.

“I think she’s getting a lot of wins, she won the tournament, but I don’t think she fought anybody like me,” Cyborg said. “But at the end of the day, when they close the cage, you’re gonna see what’s gonna happen.”

She continued, “There are a lot of different fighters. Some fighters just go in the cage and fight, some people like to talk, some people like to say stuff to their opponent to get attention. Everyone’s different. I don’t have this way. I like to go and fight, and I’m gonna continue this way, and I grow my brand. I am who I am.”