Former champion Kayla Harrison will step back inside the SmartCage this year. Harrison has signed to face Julia Budd at the season-ending PFL Championships in November.
Kayla Harrison Vs. Julia Budd Set For PFL Championships
Along with six championship matches, a former winner of the PFL will compete this November.
Kayla Harrison returns to the SmartCage when she meets Julia Budd on November 24 at PFL Championships. The event takes place from The Anthem in Washington, D.C. with fights airing live on ESPN and ESPN+.
A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Harrison has not fought since suffering her first loss to Larissa Pacheco in the finals last year. The 33-year-old had won her first 15 fights, including the 2019 and 2021 PFL titles.
Kayla Harrison Fight Replay
Budd, a 40-year-old from Canada, joined the PFL in 2021 and bested Kaitlin Young. She has gone 1-3 since, rebounding from three consecutive losses to down Martina Jindrova in June.
Prior to signing with PFL, Budd competed for Bellator, where she won the featherweight title and defended it three times before a loss to Cris Cyborg.
Julia Budd Fight Replay
“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,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “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.”
2023 PFL World Championship Card
PFL Lightweight Championship
- Clay Collard vs Olivier Aubin-Mercier
PFL Welterweight Championship
- Sadibou Sy vs Magomed Magomedkerimov
PFL Heavyweight Championship
- Renan Ferreira vs Denis Goltsov
PFL Women’s Featherweight Championship
- Larissa Pacheco vs Marina Mokhnatkina
PFL Featherweight Championship
- Jesus Pinedo vs Gabriel Braga
PFL Light Heavyweight Championship
- Joshua Silveira vs Impa Kasanganay