Cris Cyborg after Bellator 271: If Kayla Harrison ‘really wants to fight me, she knows where I’m at’
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Cris Cyborg dismantled Sinead Kavanagh in 92 seconds on Friday night to retain her women’s featherweight title at Bellator 271, which is nothing new at this stage of the champion’s illustrious career.
What is new – or rather, what would be new of she joins Bellator – is a fight with Kayla Harrison, the former two-time Olympic judo gold medalist turned two-time PFL women’s lightweight champion.
In case you’ve been living under a rock, Harrison is a free agent right now. She’s the hottest MMA free agent on the open market. And she was cageside at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino to get her first up-close look at Cyborg.
Yes, Harrison met with Bellator president Scott Coker. No, a deal does not seem imminent at the moment. But that didn’t stop the obvious questions from coming Cyborg’s way after her latest triumph.
“If she really wants to fight me, she knows where I’m at,” Cyborg told reporters, including MMA Junkie, after her Bellator 271 win. “(Her manager Ali Abdelaziz) can negotiate with Scott Coker to make the fight happen. I have nothing to say. I’m not gonna share my shine today. I’m here ready for anyone who wants to fight me, for sure.”
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Harrison, who’s undefeated at 12-0, certainly wants to fight Cyborg, She said as much in an interview with MMA Junkie moments after Cyborg’s win. Whether or not it happens, though, is to be determined. And Cyborg seems to have her doubts.
“If she really wants to fight me, she can sign with Bellator, and we’ll fight,” Cyorg said. “We’re gonna talk about this back and forth, back and forth. I don’t think she’s gonna come out of PFL. I think she’s gonna continue PFL. This is just part of the game.”
Were those doubts? Or was that a dare?
Whatever her next fight might be – perhaps against Cat Zingano or a rematch with Arlene Blencowe if Harrison doesn’t sign – Cyborg said she will “let Scott Coker do his job.”
As for Harrison?
“Thank you for coming. It was nice,” Cyborg said. “She was coming to visit my house. I hope she really liked it.”
