Since the PFL rose to prominence in 2017, Kayla Harrison has become the most successful fighter in the promotion. However, the company founder and co-owner Donn Davis appears to still be sour over her decision to sign with the UFC in 2024.
Over five years with the league, Harrison twice won the PFL Women’s Lightweight Tournament while being a part of two pay-per-view events.
Donn Davis Compares Kayla Harrison to NBA Star Kevin Durant
In an interview on the Weighing In podcast hosted by former MMA referee John McCarthy and retired fighter Josh Thomson, Donn Davis was asked by McCarthy for his thoughts on Kayla Harrison leaving the PFL in favor of the UFC.
With a disappointed expression, Davis gave a slight snub to Harrison, comparing her decision to leave his promotion to the previous career choices made by NBA forward Kevin Durant. Davis said:
It’s interesting Some people at the very, very top of their career are LeBron James, and some at the very, very top of their career are Kevin Durant. They’re both otherworldly basketball players. But who they are is very different as people.
One wants to lead and change the sport and wherever they are is the best in the world. The other is a follower who needs validation. And we couldn’t do anything about that.
Davis’ comparison blatantly referenced Durant’s highly criticized decision in the 2016 NBA offseason, when he chose to sign with the Golden State Warriors. Golden State was then considered a premiere team in the league with three established All-Star players on its roster while Durant was unanimously recognized as one of the best players in the world, having averaged 28.2 points per game the previous season.
Harrison, who has 16 fights with the PFL, signed with the UFC in January after her contract expired. The former Olympic gold medalist reportedly turned down a heftier offer from the PFL to chase her dream of becoming a UFC champion before retiring.
Kayla Harrison’s Career With the PFL
The PFL has had its fair share of star athletes in its promotion but none were bigger than Kayla Harrison, who at one point some considered the best female fighter in the world.
Through the first 15 fights of her career, Harrison went undefeated and fought all but once in the PFL, winning the promotional women’s lightweight championship twice. As a former judoka, she gained a lot of comparisons to Ronda Rousey, particularly with her physical strength in grappling exchanges and punishing ground-and-pound.
Despite her dominance, many fans could not give Harrison her full credit due to her lack of quality competition. The American engaged in online trash talk with Bellator featherweight champion Cris Cyborg but more than anything, most wanted to see her be truly tested in the UFC.
In 2022, Harrison entered a trilogy fight with Larissa Pacheco declaring it would be her final fight as a part of the notoriously difficult PFL season. In a shocking upset, Pacheco won a competitive decision to hand Harrison her first career loss.
Following the defeat, Harrison would take a full year off and fight just once more in the PFL, defeating former UFC contender Aspen Ladd. After improving to 16-1, the 33-year-old joined the world’s largest MMA promotion and debuted with an impressive submission win over Holly Holm at UFC 300.
About the Author
Jaren Kawada is a freelance sports writer from Indianapolis, Indiana with a strong passion for MMA and sports betting. Kawada has also written for Sportskeeda MMA, FanSided MMA, and BetSided as a combat sports analyst. Follow on X/Twitter at @jarenkawada1.
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