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Dan Hardy Explains How PFL/Bellator Rumors Could Impact Kayla Harrison's Free Agency (Exclusive)

Originally posted on MMA News | By Curtis Calhoun | Last updated 9/20/23

Dan Hardy feels the potential PFL-Bellator merger could solidify where Kayla Harrison fights for the remainder of her career.

Harrison is slated to make her 2023 return when she faces former Bellator champion Julia Budd at the PFL Championship on November 24th. She returns for the first time since her stunning loss to Larissa Pacheco at last year's championship card.

Harrison's upcoming matchup with Budd could potentially be the last of her league tenure, as she's hinted in recent interviews. But, she's non-committal on what her combat sports future looks like after November.

Amidst Harrison's uncertain PFL future, PFL has been rumored to be in talks with Bellator MMA to merge under one company. Bellator went up for sale earlier this year and things are expected to be finalized by the end of 2023.

If PFL purchases Bellator, Hardy feels Harrison might not sign with the UFC in free agency after all.

Dan Hardy Spoke With MMANews Ahead Of 2023 PFL Championship

In an exclusive interview with MMANews, Hardy weighed in on Harrison's next potential career move.

"The issue with her going to the UFC is that they just don't have any fighters in that weight class," Hardy said. "155 is really where she is, she'll struggle to get down to [145], and I think consistently staying at that weight class wouldn't be good for her. In her mind, she's got a few marquee fights that are left...most likely she'll rematch Pacheco at some point, I think she would love to get the [Cris Cyborg] fight, if there was any possibility in the world to get Amanda Nunes.

"She's checking off bucket list things now, I don't necessarily think she's thinking about a move for the rest of her career for where she's gonna go, it's about taking on those key names that are gonna be in the pound-for-pound best talk with her."

Harrison was briefly in talks to face off against Cris Cyborg before negotiations fell apart over the past year. A merger could re-activate fight talks and make one of the biggest possible matchups come to fruition.

Harrison was in talks with Bellator and the UFC during her free agency last year. She ended up returning to the PFL after the league matched a competing offer from Bellator.

As Harrison looks to get back on track in her fighting career, Hardy thinks her future is set in stone with the PFL, especially if the Bellator purchase follows through.

Please provide transcription credit with a link to this article if you use any of these quotes.

This article first appeared on MMA News and was syndicated with permission.

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