It was a businesslike performance for Kayla Harrison on Thursday.
Harrison (9-0), the 2019 PFL women’s lightweight season winner needed only 83 seconds to take out Mariana Morais (16-11) with a TKO. The quick win earned Harrison 6 points to open up her 2021 regular season in a quest to win a second $1 million crown.
Harrison was the highest betting favorite by far at 2021 PFL 3 in Atlantic City, N.J. She could be found as high as -5000 just before the start of the fight.
Harrison kicked high in the first couple seconds. Morais threw a jab. But 10 seconds in, Harrison had Morais clinched up and backed to the fence. And just 45 seconds in, Harrison tripped Morais to the canvas.
Morais covered up and rolled over with Harrison drilling her with punches from full mount. Morais had nothing to offer up defensively, and it didn’t take long for referee Gary Copeland to shut things down.
“This isn’t a tournament. It’s a coronation, and I’m the queen, OK?” Harrison said in her post-fight interview. “I’m not one to talk a lot of crap. But it seems like everyone from boxers to YouTube idiots seem like they can get in there. … But from now on, I’m the baddest woman in this room, or any room.”
Check out video of Harrison’s easy win over Morais below.
Heavy ground and pound from Kayla Harrison! This one is over! #2021PFL3 LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN
🌎 https://t.co/WfOt9XBfzk pic.twitter.com/d7f7M1ZX7q— PFL (@PFLMMA) May 7, 2021
