The PFL has announced its official lineup for its 2021 Finals on Oct. 27 — and to no one’s surprise, undefeated female lightweight Kayla Harrison will top the bill.
Harrison (11-0) will headline the PFL event oppositie Taylor Guardado (3-1), who emerged as an unexpected finalist in 2021. The event will feature all six finals matchups, with the winner of each weight class taking home PFL’s trademark $1 million prize. The event takes place in Hollywood, Florida and airs on ESPN2.
Harrison is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo and is seeking her second PFL championship. She has emerged as one of PFL’s biggest stars, as she’s been nothing short of dominant since transitioning into MMA full time in 2018. She trains out of American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida — the same home of UFC dual weight champion Amanda Nunes.
In addition to the six finals matchups, which includes an intriguing welterweight rematch between Ray Cooper III and Magomed Magomedkerimov, the PFL event will feature the second MMA appearance of boxing champion Claressa Shields. Shields, who won her professional MMA debut in June, will take on Mexico’s Abigail Montes.
Former UFC middleweight Omari Akhmedov will also make a non-tournament appearance on the card. The 33-year-old Russian, who fought exclusively in the UFC from 2013 to 2021, will meet Jordan Young on the night’s undercard.