Cris Cyborg Open To Future Lightweight Matchup With Kayla Harrison

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea & PFL

Reigning Bellator MMA featherweight titleholder, Cris Cyborg has claimed that a potential future matchup with unbeaten PFL revelation, Kayla Harrison at 155-pounds, is a pairing that piques her interest before she hangs up her gloves.

The Curitiba native made massive waves upon her reuniting with former Strikeforce leader, Scott Coker last year, under the Bellator MMA banner.

Linking up again with Coker, Cyborg arrived following a hugely successful, albeit, tumultuous time with the UFC, in which she clinched the undisputed featherweight championship before her relationship with head-honcho Dana White soured following her title loss to current two-weight best, Amanda 'The Lioness' Nunes. 

Cyborg's time with the promotion came to an end after a doctored video was released following her return to the winner's enclosure against Canada's Felica 'Feenom' Spencer, in which White was falsely portrayed as explaining to Cyborg that he had lied about her reluctance to pursue a rematch with compatriot, Nunes. After light was shed on the doctored footage, as well as a lengthy interview from White in which he addressed the situation, the promotion was out of the Cyborg business.

Landing in Bellator MMA, the veteran added the featherweight crown to a gleaming trophy cabinet which includes titles from Strikeforce, Invicta FC, and the UFC, Cyborg stopped longtime champion, Julia 'The Jewel' Budd with fourth-round strikes. 

Successfully defending the crown at Bellator 249 in October, Cyborg submitted Arlene 'Angerfist' Blencowe via a second-round rear-naked choke. 

Speaking with reporter, James Lynch on an episode of 'The Catch-Up' -- Cyborg detailed her interest in a possible outing against two-time Olympic gold medalist, Harrison as high as lightweight, before announcing her plans to test waters at 155-pound before it's all said and done.

"I believe this year she's (Kayla Harrison) gonna fight for (the) PFL, she's gonna be in a tournament at 155(-pounds)," Cyborg said. "And if she becomes the champion of this tournament, for sure I would like to make a match with her that all the fans would like to watch. I would like to go to 155 (-pounds) before I retire. I want to help build the division and if she is young, let's see if she would like to do a match, one real match for her."

Undefeated at 8-0, 30-year-old Judoka, Harrison most recently competed under the Invicta FC banner, headlining Invicta FC 43 against Courtney King, scoring a dominant, one-sided second-round knockout win. Still part of the PFL roster, Harrison was then slated to match with former opponent Jozette Cotton at Titan FC 66 in late December, until the latter required transportation to a medical facility due to the effects of weight cutting, resulting in the bout's cancellation. 

Harrison was crowned the 2019 PFL lightweight tournament victor via a unanimous decision victory over Larissa Pacheco on New Year's Eve, notching her seventh professional victory since her transition from Judo the year prior.