After a week in which two female boxers headlined the at the Madison Square Garden in New York, two others, lightweights Kayla Harrison and Marina Mokhnatkina are set to headline PFL 3 at Arlington, Texas. The MMA event which will be live on ESPN and streaming on ESPN+ is another season of the unique MMA format of the Professional Fighters League which uses a points season to score matches and has play-offs involving the four best fighters at the end of the season.
Date: May 6, 2022
Starting time: Prelims 5:30 PM ET / Main Card 9:00 PM ET
Location: Arlington, Texas
Venue: Esports Stadium Arlington
Main Card: ESPN 2
Introductory: ESPN +
Kayla Harrison
Undefeated PFL Lightweight champion and two-time Olympic Judo gold medalist, Kayla Harrison is touted as the best female MMA fighter on the planet. She has a perfect 9-0 record across Featherweight and Lightweight and she has been ceaselessly courted by other promotions. After winning the PFL Lightweight championship last July at PFL 2, Harrison became a free agent but she shocked the MMA world when she re-signed with PFL for the 2022 season.
Scott Coker, the Bellator president crystallised this disappointment when he remarked that:
With Kayla right now, I don’t know who she gonna fight over there. She’s growing, she’s doing very well. But she gonna fight somebody to really showcase that she has that ability to fight at that elite level.
Marina Mokhnatkina
Marina Mokhnatkina
Russian MMA fighter Marina Mokhnatkina will be Kayla’s opponent in the cage at Arlington. While her more illustrious opponent has stolen the spotlight, Marina will be hoping for an upset. Formerly with Bellator, the Russian has 6 wins and two losses in a fledgling MMA career.
Betting Odds
There is a reason that Kayla’s manager Ali Abdelaziz told TMZ Sports
Everybody trying to sign Kayla. Even Walmart try to sign Kayla. The WWE been calling too, but we're interested in real fighting
Ali Abdelaziz
That reason is why the sportsbooks have given the American Olympian overwhelming odds. Bet365 has Kayla Harrisson for the win at 1.02