As the legendary hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan said in their hit song C.R.E.A.M., “Cash Rules Everything Around Me”
In some aspects of the sport of MMA, that statement is true. But for Kayla Harrison, forging a mixed martial arts legacy is more important at this stage in her career.
The Two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison has already won the PFL’s million-dollar tournament multiple times. By winning and dominating opponents, you would think she would make the PFL her home until the day she retired.
Fans have criticized the talent of competition that Kayla has gone against, which is completely unfair to both her and her opponents. By signing with the UFC and entering an established women’s bantamweight division, Kayla Harrison is ready for a deeper challenge and a need to silence anyone questioning her resume.
Future Match-ups for Kayla Harrison (Win or Lose)
If Kayla can make her UFC debut a triumphant one, here are the top three names to capitalize on with a win against a former champion like Holly Holm.
Raquel Pennington: Kayla Harrison is a big name for Raquel Pennington to defend her title against. The way the two have been going back and forth, it would be an easy sell for the UFC.
Julianna Pena: Pena has been a top contender in the division and even a former champion. A fight with Kayla Harrison would make total sense if Raquel Pennington is not ready to defend.
Amanda Nunes: Sure, Amanda Nunes is retired (and who knows if she will ever return to action inside the Octagon). However, we could see Kayla Harrison calling Nunes out and if Amanda needs motivation to return, a fight with Kayla Harrison would be exciting.
Mayra Bueno Silva, Ketlen Vieira, Irene Aldana or even a big-name matchup against Miesha Tate could be a possibility with a loss.
Now, the road to UFC 300 for Kayla has the MMA community being consistently critical if Kayla will be able to make weight.
It might be a rough one but Harrison has been an ultimate professional through and through. We can’t see the scale being a tough opponent for the former two-time PFL lightweight champion.
Legacy going forward, win or lose
Many are asking if Kayla Harrison can shine bright in the UFC, and who knows if there will be Octagon jitters for her debut at UFC 300. It seems highly unlikely as her personality doesn’t give off the aura of being triggered by big moments like these.
A win will open up many doors for her and could skyrocket her to title contention. If she loses the debut it would be a slight setback, but not fatal for her UFC career.
The PFL helped mould the star that is Kayla Harrison by providing her a platform to showcase her skills. It is time for her to make a statement to those who have questioned her ability to be a star in the UFC?
Featured image credit to Embed from Getty Images
