Kayla Harrison dominates Aspen Ladd in PFL bout, calls for Cris Cyborg - ESPN

WASHINGTON D.C. — A potential superfight between two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison and Bellator MMA champion Cris Cyborg has tantalized fans for years. For the first time, however, nothing is really standing in the way of it happening.

Harrison (16-1) certainly knows as much and called for Cyborg to meet her in the PFL in 2024 on Friday after dominating Aspen Ladd in a three-round decision in her first appearance of 2023.

Earlier this week, the PFL announced it had acquired Bellator MMA from Paramount, meaning both Harrison and Cyborg are under contract with the same company for the first time in their careers. Harrison immediately referenced a fight with Cyborg after Friday night's win.

«PFL just acquired Bellator,» Harrison said. «I heard there's a girl in Bellator who thinks she's a bad b----. Why don't we find out?»

Cyborg (27-2), who is scheduled to box professionally in January, responded on X.

«I'm a women (sic). Not a girl,» she wrote. «Women don't refer to themselves as b----. You basic.»

A matchup between Harrison and Cyborg would arguably be the most intriguing fight in women's MMA right now. Harrison, a two-time gold medalist in judo, suffered her first defeat at the end of 2022 to Larissa Pacheco but has otherwise been dominant since transitioning to the sport in 2018. Cyborg, 38, is one of the most decorated athletes in women's MMA history. She is coming off a first-round Bellator title defense against Cat Zingano in October.

The PFL has said it intends to continue operating Bellator as a separate league, but it's also planning a PFL champion vs. Bellator champion event in early 2024, potentially February. That theme played out all evening at the PFL 2023 Championship Finals on Friday, at The Anthem