Kayla Harrison Returns to the Octagon: What’s Next for the Former Lightweight Champion?

Kayla Harrison is set to make her return to the Octagon in a highly anticipated 150-pound Catchweight bout against Aspen Ladd. Find out what’s next for the former Lightweight champion and her plans for the future.

Kayla Harrison, the former two-time Lightweight titleholder, is making her comeback in the 2023 PFL Championship. After originally being paired with Julia Budd, Harrison will now face off against Aspen Ladd in a 150-pound Catchweight bout. This fight marks the end of Harrison’s current contract with the promotion, and she is ready to take on any challenges that come her way. Whether she stays with PFL or moves on to another promotion, Harrison’s determination and fearlessness will continue to drive her forward.

Kayla Harrison’s Return to the Octagon

The 2023 PFL Championship fight week is underway, and all eyes are on Kayla Harrison as she prepares to step back into the cage. This weekend, inside The Anthem in Washington D.C., Harrison will face off against former UFC Bantamweight contender, Aspen Ladd, in a highly anticipated 150-pound Catchweight bout.

Harrison, a former two-time Lightweight titleholder, was originally scheduled to fight Julia Budd, the former Bellator Featherweight queenpin. However, a last-minute change in opponents has only fueled Harrison’s determination to prove herself once again.

This fight marks the end of Harrison’s current contract with the promotion, making her a free agent for the first time since early 2022. While her future fighting home remains uncertain, one thing is clear: Harrison is ready to take on any challenge that comes her way.

In a recent interview on The MMA Hour, Harrison expressed her unwavering confidence and determination. She stated, "Have you ever known me to shy away from a fight or say no to fighting someone? No. It doesn’t matter what promotion you are. I believe in myself. Everyone’s like ‘Well, you lost.’ Yeah, guess what? Sometimes giants fall. Sometimes, s—t happens. Sometimes you lose. Sometimes you stumble, but it’s not what happens then. It’s what happens after you stumble. I’m not afraid of hard work. I’m not afraid of climbing back up. I’m not afraid of pushing myself and saying no, that’s not it, I’m not done. I’m still here. I’ve got something to prove. I’m not afraid of it. In fact, I relish it."

With Bellator now integrated into PFL, Harrison’s options are limited outside of her current fighting home. The only remaining option is the UFC, but there are challenges even within that organization. Harrison has considered dropping down to the 135-pound Bantamweight division if necessary, but she acknowledges the difficulties that come with it. She said, "I mean 135 will challenge me in ways like I’m going to have to lose a piece of me to be able to fight at 135 pounds. I think just structurally, I carry a lot of muscle. I’m already kind of lean, so I’m going to have to lose muscle. I’m going to have to change my entire lifestyle. I mean, I have already done that to fight at 145. It’s crazy what happens when you take care of your body and eat properly and sleep and recover. I was a knucklehead when I was younger. But I have faith whatever is meant to be, will be."

As Kayla Harrison steps back into the Octagon, the MMA world eagerly awaits the outcome of her fight with Aspen Ladd. Regardless of the result, one thing is certain: Harrison’s determination and fearlessness will continue to drive her forward, no matter where her fighting career takes her.