Two-time PFL World Champion Kayla Harrison is set to make her return against the former featherweight champion, Julia Budd, on November 24th, 2023, at the 2023 PFL World Championships.
Harrison had announced her retirement from the Olympics shortly after winning her second Olympic Gold medal in Rio in 2016. The news was in the offing, given that Harrison had almost walked away when she won the gold in Judo during the London 2012 Olympics. Thereafter, she moved into MMA as she made her PFL debut in 2018. An impressive run of 15 wins out of 16 followed. However, her last fight was a loss to Larissa Pacheco at the 2022 PFL Women’s Lightweight Tournament Final. But now she will make her comeback against Budd, who has an equally impressive record of 17 victories during her career.
Guess who's back!
Kayla Harrison returns vs. Julia Budd at #PFLWorldChampionship 👊
More: https://t.co/zyI0pNDxzN pic.twitter.com/jktJbgNple
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) September 13, 2023
Reaction
“The stage is set for the 2023 PFL World Championship on Friday, November 24, live from The Anthem in Washington D.C., and includes the return of MMA superstar Kayla Harrison to the PFL SmartCage. The 2023 PFL Season will culminate with the biggest night in MMA, the 2023 PFL World Championship. Six incredible athletes will walk out of the PFL SmartCage with a PFL World Championship title and a $1 million check,” PFL CEO Peter Murray
Full Card
Clay Collard vs Olivier Aubin-Mercier – PFL Lightweight Championship
Sadibou Sy vs Magomed Magomedkerimov – PFL Welterweight Championship
Renan Ferreira vs Denis Goltsov – PFL Heavyweight Championship
Larissa Pacheco vs Marina Mokhnatkina – PFL Women’s Featherweight Championship
Jesus Pinedo vs Gabriel Braga – PFL Featherweight Championship
Joshua Silveira vs Impa Kasanganay – PFL Light Heavyweight Championship