Kayla Harrison made it clear she wanted a second fight before the year ended, and that’s what she’s getting.
[autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] made it clear she wanted a second fight before the year ended, and that’s what she’s getting.
Harrison, the 2019 PFL women’s lightweight champion, is set to fight [autotag]Jozette Cotton[/autotag] on Dec. 17 at Titan FC 66 in Miami.
A person with knowledge of the matchup informed MMA Junkie of the booking. ESPN was the first to report the booking Monday.
The fight between Harrison (8-0) and Cotton (8-2), which will be contested at lightweight, is a rematch of an August 2018 matchup. Harrison won by third-round TKO at PFL 6 in just her second professional fight.
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Harrison, 30, had been frustrated sitting on the sidelines all year after the PFL canceled its 2020 season earlier this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. But she reached an agreement with the promotion to be able to compete in other promotions before the 2021 season gets underway next April.
Harrison made her return to competition last month at Invicta FC 43 where she battered and bloodied Courtney King, en route to a second-round TKO win to remain undefeated. It was Harrison’s first time competing at 145 pounds.
Cotton, 30, who fights out of Omaha, Neb., hasn’t competed since her loss to Harrison more than two years ago.
Claressa Shields will box and take part in MMA events going forward.
Editor’s note: This article was originally posted on MMAJunkie.com.
***
Claressa Shields will make her MMA debut next year, but she won’t completely transition away from boxing.
Shields, the undisputed women’s middleweight champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, has signed a deal with PFL, but she won’t be a part of the 2021 season. Instead, Shields will take one-off fights at lightweight while also boxing next year, too.
“I’m still gonna box and do MMA at the same time,” Shields told PFL broadcast partner ESPN. “I could box in my sleep. That’s not something that I really have to worry about. I’m gonna spend a lot of time learning and just growing in MMA, but I’m still gonna accept my mandatory challenges in boxing.
“I’m gonna fight those girls, I’m gonna beat them, but I plan on having maybe two or three boxing matches and two to three MMA fights next year.”
Shields has dominated the boxing world, putting together a 10-0 professional record after going 77-1 as an amateur. Shields is one of only seven boxers in history – male or female – to hold IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO world championships at the same time.
While she still plans on boxing, Shields explained that the perks of MMA include the equal opportunity in pay for women and men. Specifically in the PFL, both get the chance to compete for $1 million.
“I feel like I’ve had fights in boxing that have captured the sports world, just women’s boxing isn’t treated equally,” Shields said. “Every MMA league, they have women fighters main event. The PFL give women a chance to fight for a million dollars just like they give men a chance to fight in a league for a million dollars. In boxing, there aren’t those kind of opportunities for women.
“You have two or three of us that are getting paid good money, and then the rest of them are kind of just like opponents, and they don’t really have a large following and a big backing. In MMA, in the PFL, you create your own destiny, and that’s what I want to do. I created my own destiny in boxing and as far as in becoming a two-time Olympic champ, starting from the Junior Olympics to the real Olympics, world championships and now being a professional world champion. I just wanna test myself really.”
Naturally, Shields’ signing with the PFL has already sparked up talks of a potential future fight with fellow two-time Olympic gold medalist and 2019 PFL champ Kayla Harrison.
Shields understands that she has some work to do before a fight of that magnitude, and she absolutely plans on getting there.
“Just me being who I am, of course I want to fight the best,” Shields said. “Right now, she’s the best. She’s the winner of the PFL league. She won the million dollars, and I was able to watch all of her fights leading up to that not because I was getting ready to come to the PFL, but because I’m a fan of hers and we’re actually friends. We’ve been at both Olympics together. We know each other.
“I actually texted her this morning, so of course that’s who I’m looking at down the line, but then again like I said, the PFL, you create your own destiny. Anything can happen on any given night so we can be in a tournament in 2022 or 2023 and be fighting, and she loses. It’s like anything can happen, so I’m just gonna take it one fight at a time. I’m not initially thinking of Kayla Harrison right off the bat, but she will be in my thoughts towards the end of 2021.”
Claressa Shields will box and take part in MMA events going forward.
Editor’s note: This article was originally posted on MMAJunkie.com.
***
Claressa Shields will make her MMA debut next year, but she won’t completely transition away from boxing.
Shields, the undisputed women’s middleweight champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, has signed a deal with PFL, but she won’t be a part of the 2021 season. Instead, Shields will take one-off fights at lightweight while also boxing next year, too.
“I’m still gonna box and do MMA at the same time,” Shields told PFL broadcast partner ESPN. “I could box in my sleep. That’s not something that I really have to worry about. I’m gonna spend a lot of time learning and just growing in MMA, but I’m still gonna accept my mandatory challenges in boxing.
“I’m gonna fight those girls, I’m gonna beat them, but I plan on having maybe two or three boxing matches and two to three MMA fights next year.”
Shields has dominated the boxing world, putting together a 10-0 professional record after going 77-1 as an amateur. Shields is one of only seven boxers in history – male or female – to hold IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO world championships at the same time.
While she still plans on boxing, Shields explained that the perks of MMA include the equal opportunity in pay for women and men. Specifically in the PFL, both get the chance to compete for $1 million.
“I feel like I’ve had fights in boxing that have captured the sports world, just women’s boxing isn’t treated equally,” Shields said. “Every MMA league, they have women fighters main event. The PFL give women a chance to fight for a million dollars just like they give men a chance to fight in a league for a million dollars. In boxing, there aren’t those kind of opportunities for women.
“You have two or three of us that are getting paid good money, and then the rest of them are kind of just like opponents, and they don’t really have a large following and a big backing. In MMA, in the PFL, you create your own destiny, and that’s what I want to do. I created my own destiny in boxing and as far as in becoming a two-time Olympic champ, starting from the Junior Olympics to the real Olympics, world championships and now being a professional world champion. I just wanna test myself really.”
Naturally, Shields’ signing with the PFL has already sparked up talks of a potential future fight with fellow two-time Olympic gold medalist and 2019 PFL champ Kayla Harrison.
Shields understands that she has some work to do before a fight of that magnitude, and she absolutely plans on getting there.
“Just me being who I am, of course I want to fight the best,” Shields said. “Right now, she’s the best. She’s the winner of the PFL league. She won the million dollars, and I was able to watch all of her fights leading up to that not because I was getting ready to come to the PFL, but because I’m a fan of hers and we’re actually friends. We’ve been at both Olympics together. We know each other.
“I actually texted her this morning, so of course that’s who I’m looking at down the line, but then again like I said, the PFL, you create your own destiny. Anything can happen on any given night so we can be in a tournament in 2022 or 2023 and be fighting, and she loses. It’s like anything can happen, so I’m just gonna take it one fight at a time. I’m not initially thinking of Kayla Harrison right off the bat, but she will be in my thoughts towards the end of 2021.”
Claressa Shields will make her MMA debut next year, but that doesn’t mean she’s leaving boxing.
[autotag]Claressa Shields[/autotag] will make her MMA debut next year, but she won’t completely transition away from boxing.
Shields, the undisputed women’s middleweight champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, has signed a deal with PFL, but she won’t be a part of the 2021 season. Instead, Shields will take one-off fights at lightweight while also boxing next year, too.
“I’m still gonna box and do MMA at the same time,” Shields told PFL broadcast partner ESPN. “I could box in my sleep. That’s not something that I really have to worry about. I’m gonna spend a lot of time learning and just growing in MMA, but I’m still gonna accept my mandatory challenges in boxing. I’m gonna fight those girls, I’m gonna beat them, but I plan on having maybe two or three boxing matches and two to three MMA fights next year.”
Shields has dominated the boxing world, putting together a 10-0 professional record after going 77-1 as an amateur. Shields is one of only seven boxers in history – male or female – to hold WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO world championships at the same time.
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While she still plans on boxing, Shields explained that the perks of MMA include the equal opportunity in pay for women and men. Specifically in the PFL, both get the chance to compete for $1 million.
“I feel like I’ve had fights in boxing that have captured the sports world, just women’s boxing isn’t treated equally,” Shields said. “Every MMA league, they have women fighters main event. The PFL give women a chance to fight for a million dollars just like they give men a chance to fight in a league for a million dollars. In boxing, there aren’t those kind of opportunities for women.
“You have two or three of us that are getting paid good money, and then the rest of them are kind of just like opponents, and they don’t really have a large following and a big backing. In MMA, in the PFL, you create your own destiny, and that’s what I want to do. I created my own destiny in boxing and as far as in becoming a two-time Olympic champ, starting from the Junior Olympics to the real Olympics, world championships and now being a professional world champion. I just wanna test myself really.”
Naturally, Shield’s signing with the PFL has already sparked up talks of a potential future fight with fellow two-time Olympic gold medalist and 2019 PFL champ [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag].
Shields understands that she has some work to do before a fight of that magnitude, and she absolutely plans on getting there.
“Just me being who I am, of course I want to fight the best,” Shields said. “Right now, she’s the best. She’s the winner of the PFL league. She won the million dollars, and I was able to watch all of her fights leading up to that not because I was getting ready to come to the PFL, but because I’m a fan of hers and we’re actually friends. We’ve been at both Olympics together. We know each other.
“I actually texted her this morning, so of course that’s who I’m looking at down the line, but then again like I said, the PFL, you create your own destiny. Anything can happen on any given night so we can be in a tournament in 2022 or 2023 and be fighting, and she loses. It’s like anything can happen, so I’m just gonna take it one fight at a time. I’m not initially thinking of Kayla Harrison right off the bat, but she will be in my thoughts towards the end of 2021.”
Kayla Harrison wants to log one more fight before the year’s end.
[autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] is determined to fight once more in 2020.
The 2019 PFL women’s lightweight champion is targeting a return to action under the Titan FC banner on Dec. 18. Harrison (8-0) , is struggling to find an opponent, though, and took to Twitter on Monday to issue an open challenge to anyone willing to face her in a 150-pound catchweight.
“If anyone wants to fight me on December 18th @TitanFighting at a catch weight of 150lbs please please contact @AliAbdelaziz00!” Harrison wrote on Twitter.
If anyone wants to fight me on December 18th @TitanFighting at a catch weight of 150lbs please please contact @AliAbdelaziz00 !
Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, most recently competed at Invicta FC 43 on Nov. 20. She stopped Courtney King in the second round of their featherweight main event, which was Harrison’s debut in the weight class after spending previous fights at 155 pounds.
The 30-year-old Harrison remains unbeaten in MMA since making her debut in summer 2018. She’s expected to return for PFL upcoming 2021 season in hopes of repeating her championship run.
Getting another bout in on Dec. 18 is the priority now, though, and according to ESPN, Harrison’s manager Ali Abdelaziz will even put money forward to make a bigger purse for any willing foe.
PFL champion Kayla Harrison is coming off a dominant showing at Invicta FC 43, where she fought for the first time at 146 pounds.
[autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag]’s first trip down to featherweight wasn’t so bad, after all.
The 2019 PFL women’s lightweight champion had a positive experience in her 145-pound debut. Harrison (8-0 MMA) stopped Courtney King with ground-and-pound in the second round of the main event of Invicta FC 43 this past weekend. The fight card went down in Kansas City, Kan.
It was a flawless performance that stemmed from shedding an additional 10 pounds from her normal competition weight. It’s never easy to cut weight, but Harrison made the limit healthy, and said she felt game come fight night.
“I was surprised about how good I felt actually,” Harrison told MMA Junkie. “I felt the same way I do about 155, so it was a pleasant surprise. I think I’m probably going to be a lot stronger than most women at 145 and a lot bigger.
“Typically, at 155, I fought girls much bigger than me just because I don’t cut that much weight and I walk around about 160-165. So it was different for sure, but I was glad I made the weight. I haven’t weighed that since I was 16 years old, so that was a big hurdle for me, but I was pretty professional about it. I stayed disciplined and I got to the fight at about 153, I dieted down to that, and then didn’t have to cut too much water.
“It was not a good experience, not a pleasant experience, but it’s good to know that I could do it. It’s good to know that I could do it under terrible COVID (protocol) conditions where I’m literally quarantined to my room and can’t leave it.”
Harrison is regarded as one of the best talents and athletes in women’s MMA. She’s a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, and yet to be beaten in MMA.
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It was a lifestyle change for Harrison to get down at 146 pounds, she said. Harrison, who’s signed with PFL but is fighting outside of the organization as she waits or the 2020 PFL season, had to be more calculated this time out.
“Normally, when I fight at 155, when I get close to the fight I eat clean but I eat as much as I want,” Harrison explained. “I eat until I’m full, like there’s no portion control or anything. But for 145, I definitely had to, you know, four ounces of meat, a certain amount of carbs.
“I just had to be more disciplined in my regimen and what times I ate, and what I was eating, and all that stuff. I was much more strict and much more miserable than I normally am. I had to miss all that Halloween candy, so thats sucked.”
For now, Harrison is contracted to fight one more season with PFL. The 30-year-old will compete in its lightweight season, which begins in April, but she’s not ruling out a drop back down in the future.
“Well, I’ll fight for PFL next year at 155 and then see what happens,” Harrison said. “I don’t believe in cutting weight. I don’t think it’s good for your body. I don’t think it sends a good message to kids, and I truly believe if you’re going to win, you’re going to win at whatever weight you fight.
“But having said that, I am in the business of Kayla Harrison, and there’s probably going to be more opportunities for me at 145 than 155. So, we’ll see what happens.”
Check out the latest episode of Spinning Back Clique unpacking UFC 255, the lightweight division’s outlook, and more.
Welcome to “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show that takes a quick spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. This week, Simon Head hosts the panel of MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George,” as well as MMA Junkie’s John Morgan and Mike Bohn. Let’s get after it!
SHOW TOPICS
UFC flyweight champion [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] needed less than two minutes to submit Alex Perez, and the promotion has wasted no time in booking his next title defense. Figueiredo will take on fellow UFC 255 winner [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] on Dec. 12 at UFC 256, marking a 21-day turnaround for both men. Is this a good idea? And which fighter stands to benefit the most from the short lead time?
The other title fight this past Saturday saw UFC women’s flyweight champion [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] defend her title against Jennifer Maia. After her victory, UFC president Dana White mentioned three potential matchups next, with Jessica Andrade, Zhang Weili and, possibly, Amanda Nunes all mentioned. Which bout makes the most sense, and where does the in-form Lauren Murphy fit into all of this?
UFC 255 also saw the return to action of “Platinum” [autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag], who lost out on the scorecards to Tim Means after an entertaining back-and-forth battle. Perry is now 7-7 in the UFC and missed weight by 4.5 pounds last week. Given all that’s gone on with Perry, how do you assess his status in the UFC right now, and what should come next at this stage in his career?
Business is picking up once again in the UFC lightweight division, with [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] and [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] officially set to rematch Jan. 23 at UFC 257, while [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] returns to fight [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] on Dec. 12 at UFC 256. It means some of the big guns of the division will be facing off, but what’s going on with the title? [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] says he’s retired, but White is hanging on to the possibility that the champ might come back for one more fight. How will this all shake out in the coming months?
And finally, we had a ton of non-UFC action on the slate last week, with outstanding performances delivered by the likes of [autotag]A.J. McKee[/autotag] (Bellator 253), [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] (LFA 95) and PFL champ [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (Invicta FC 43). To wrap things up, who among those three impressed the most?
For answers to all of those questions, watch Episode 54 of “Spinning Back Clique” above.
Kayla Harrison made a successful featherweight debut.
[autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag]’s featherweight debut could not have gone any better.
The 2019 PFL lightweight champion picked up a dominant victory in her first fight down at 145 pounds in the main event of Invicta FC 43 on Friday night in Kansas City, Kansas. Harrison (8-0 MMA) stopped Courtney King with ground-and-pound at the 4:48 mark of round two.
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It was a dominant showing all throughout the fight by the Olympic judo gold medalist, in the first of two bouts she’ll fight in Invicta while the PFL remains on hiatus.
Harrison got a trip early in the first and landed heavy elbows on King (4-2 MMA) as she advanced positions into mount. Harrison maintained top control for the majority of the round and opened a nasty cut between King’s eyes. With about 30 second remaining, Harrison went for an armbar. She had the submission locked but she was unable to stretch the arm before the bell rang.
The second round was no different. Harrison blast-doubled King, gained side control, and landed ground-and-pound until the referee waved things off.
Harrison remains unbeaten in MMA. The 30-year-old made her debut in summer of 2018 competing at 155 pounds. She’s regarded as one of the most promising talents in women’s MMA.
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Harrison is expected to compete in the 2021 PFL lightweight tournament set to kick off in spring. In the meantime, she’s contracted to potentially fight twice in Invicta, of which Friday night’s bout was the first.
Below are the full results for Invicta FC 43:
Kayla Harrison def. Courtney King TKO (ground-and-pound) – Round 2, 4:48
