Kayla Harrison (14-0-0) is again in London for her PFL Playoff clash against Martina Jindrova (6-2-0) on Saturday night time, however nonetheless discovered a second for an unique catch-up with M&F forward of bell time. The American Prime Group member spoke of her continued love of MMA, household enterprise, Cyborg, and gaining perspective on life.
The final time that the two-time Olympic Judo gold medalist and present MMA phenom, talked to Muscle & Health, she was properly on the best way to her second PFL Light-weight title win. When requested final 12 months how she would spend that $1 million prize purse, Harrison stated that she would like to take her youngsters to Disney Land. So, having taking out Taylor Guardado with an arm bar within the second spherical of the finals, did they make that household journey? “We didn’t go to Disney, we went to Lego Land as a substitute,” laughs Harrison. “A bit extra age applicable for my son, on the time. Lego Land was enjoyable although, we had a blast.”
With Emery now 3, and Kyla 9, are they nonetheless pursuing gymnastics? “Really, they’ve each moved on,” says the MMA icon. “My daughter has completed just about each sport there may be to do at this level. Observe, soccer, gymnastics, wrestling, they usually each go to the gymnasium with me now.”
So, has the gym environment piqued the kids interest for following in Mother’s footsteps? “Oh yeah, completely,” says Harrison. “It’s positively a household enterprise, you realize the youngsters come to the gymnasium with me, they’re operating round. Kyla goes to wrestling follow. My son needs to, he’s simply not sufficiently old but, however he’s all the time crying to get on the mats and desirous to be taught strikes, so it’s positively a household enterprise and I really like each minute of it.”
Kayla Harrison Loves London
Speaking of Love, Harrison is again in London to combat on Saturday, this is similar metropolis that hosted the 2012 Olympics. “We really took a bit of journey down reminiscence lane on Tuesday and went again to the Excel Area the place I received my gold medal, in order that was unbelievable,” shares Kayla. In fact, Harrison’s legacy as a two-time Olympic gold medalist in Judo is properly cemented within the annals of historical past, however by way of MMA, it’s proper again to combat week with a purpose to face her subsequent problem with Guardado. “The hay is within the barn, the works been completed, it’s nearly staying sharp, drilling,” she says. “I really had the pleasure of going to coach at GB Top Team, [Head coached] by Brad Pickett, in order that was actually enjoyable. It’s a fantastic coaching facility and I actually loved my time coaching there as properly.”
With simply hours now to go till bell time, how does Harrison put together for the duty at hand? “I wish to sleep in as a result of I do know that combat night time goes to be a late night time,” she shares. “So, I attempt to sleep in so long as I can, until media obligations deter me from that however it’s actually about relaxation, restoration, and on the point of be my finest self on Saturday night time.”
Will this be Kayla Harrison’s Final PFL Season?
The inspirational fighter has been commenting just lately about making this PFL season her final, and it appears that evidently this can certainly be the case. “I feel it’s a large number of issues, I feel that, you realize, I’m 32, I’m not getting any youthful. I’ll have [had] 16 fights by the tip of this season and the season is a grind each in your physique and mentally and you set your life on maintain if you wish to achieve success,” says Harrison. “Such as you stated, we haven’t gone to Disney, we don’t take holidays. I haven’t seen my household in Ohio since Christmas. Life will get placed on maintain. I haven’t been in a position to work on my Fearless Foundation the best way I might wanna work on it. So, I feel that every thing simply type of… it is smart for me, you realize?
“I’m going to win the (PFL Light-weight) title 3-times, I’m able to combat massive fights and be affected person and take my time and select these, and I additionally assume I gotta begin dwelling a bit of bit. There are different issues that I wish to make investments a while into and that’s largely the folks I really like and the inspiration that I’m enthusiastic about.”
The #PFLPlayoffsLondon Fundamental Occasion is OFFICIAL!
⚖️ @KaylaH: 155 lbs
⚖️ Martina Jindrova: 154 lbs pic.twitter.com/srALvJ5eOn—PFL (@PFLMMA) August 19, 2022
Does Kayla Harrison Need to Combat Cyborg?
With the opportunity of Harrison taking marquee matches somewhat than grinding by one other PFL season changing into a really actual prospect, one potential dream match that has everybody salivating is a combat between herself and Cristiane Justino Venâncio, in any other case generally known as Cyborg. Behind the hoopla, is that this a problem that Harrison is worked up about? “In fact, yeah, I’d love to check myself in opposition to Cyborg,” says the PFL supremo. “She’s a legend of the game, she’s achieved rather a lot, she’s been so good that we couldn’t ignore her. In fact, I’d like to combat her.”
Plainly so long as Kayla Harrison nonetheless has love for MMA, she’s going to proceed to personal the starvation and fervour required to check herself on the biggest stage. “I really like what I do,” she says. “I can truthfully say that I can’t imagine that is my life typically, you realize? Once I take into consideration the place it began and I feel too, actually, like statistically, [my success] in all probability was not purported to occur, you realize? It might have gone rather a lot worse and I’m actually actually grateful for the life I reside. I wouldn’t need it some other approach … I’m blessed past measure. I do know that God gave me this path for a motive and my objective is to simply do what he has deliberate for me, to the very best of my means.”
Kayla Harrison Nonetheless Takes her MMA Profession One Combat at a Time
Plans for future fights are one factor, however the profession of an MMA competitor is just not decided by ideas of bouts that may occur down the road. Simply hours away, Martina Jindrova will doubtless show herself as a worthy challenger on the Copper Field Area. “I’ve by no means fought Martina earlier than so, she’s a brand new opponent, a brand new puzzle to place collectively and remedy,” says Harrison. “I feel everybody thinks I’ll combat (Larissa) Pacheco within the finals, who I’ve fought earlier than, and actually I gotta take it one step at a time, one combat at a time, at some point at a time, you realize, you possibly can’t get there when you skip this step so the main focus is on Martina. I’m wanting ahead to a great combat on Saturday night time. She’s gonna come on the market and I attempt to take my head off and my job is to go on the market and attempt to take her head off, and I feel it’s going to be about who instils their will and who implements their gameplan to the very best of their means and I’ve ready, and I’m prepared, and it’s virtually time now.”
Harrison vs. Jindrova shall be broadcast reside from London on Saturday, August 20. For info on how one can watch the combat the place ever you might be, go to: PFLMMA
