PFL founder Donn Davis reversed months of bad blood between himself and Kayla Harrison ahead of UFC 316.
Kayla Harrison will look to cement herself as one of the greatest combat sports athletes of all time as she prepares to fight for the UFC bantamweight championship this summer. Harrison and UFC women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Peña co-headline a stacked card at UFC 316, featuring a main event rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley.
After two dominant wins to begin her UFC tenure, Harrison will get the title fight spotlight at UFC 316. She parted ways with the PFL last year after a long, decorated tenure with the promotion.
Harrison’s PFL departure wasn’t received well by the league’s executives, including co-founder Donn Davis. Davis accused Harrison of ‘running’ from high-profile fights in the PFL with the likes of Cris Cyborg and Larissa Pacheco.
Donn Davis responds to Kayla Harrison’s latest remarks about PFL split
In a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Harrison addressed her relationship with her former employers.
“I have no ill will, nothing truly negative to say, but it was time for me to go,” Harrison said. “Why would they [support me]? I think they’re really bitter, one person in particular, but I don’t spend any time thinking about it…it’s always the people in power that when they don’t get their way, they struggle with that.
“Donn is still mad at me or something, I don’t know…But I always try to stay off social media.”
Despite Harrison’s comments about avoiding her social media pages, it didn’t take long for Davis to address her remarks and extend a surprising olive branch ahead of UFC 316.
In a recent tweet, Davis reminisced on his first meeting with Harrison ahead of her upcoming UFC title fight.
“2017 pic before [Kayla Harrison]’s first pro MMA fight…I never had any doubt and introduced her that night as “future world champion,” Davis posted.
“Kayla is 2x [PFL] Champion and in June will be [UFC] Champion. UFC women’s division never tested her.”
As of this writing, Harrison hasn’t responded to Davis’s cordial post.
Harrison isn’t the only big-name figure to leave the PFL in recent months. Featherweight star Aaron Pico is reportedly lined up for his UFC debut later this year after requesting his release from the PFL.
2017 pic before @KaylaH first pro MMA fight … I never had any doubt and introduced her that night as “future world champion”
Kayla is 2x @PFLMMA Champion and in June will be @UFC Champion 👊
UFC women’s division never tested her pic.twitter.com/0rMsnmx91I
— Donn Davis (@DonnDavisPFL) April 7, 2025
Megan Anderson warns Kayla Harrison of dramatic weight cutting ahead of UFC 316
Ahead of another brutal cut down to the bantamweight limit, former title challenger Megan Anderson expressed concerns for Harrison’s long-term health. Harrison silenced her detractors in successfully making weight twice in her UFC tenure, but will need to cut an additional pound to be eligible to fight for the belt.
Harrison fought at lightweight for the majority of her PFL tenure before competing at featherweight in her league finale at the 2023 PFL Championship. She defeated Aspen Ladd by unanimous decision.
As of this writing, tensions between Harrison and the PFL have cooled down as she prepares for the fight of her life.
