Kayla Harrison’s MMA debut is set.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist will make her long-awaited debut vs. Brittney Elkin on June 21 in Chicago, MMA Fighting has learned. The event, PFL 2, will be held at the Chicago Theater and the main card will air live on NBCSN in the United States. Harrison vs. Elkin is expected to take place at 155 pounds.
According to sources, Harrison is able to make 145 pounds. However, for her debut, her team felt like it would make more sense to have her fight at her walking around weight, which is approximately 156 pounds.
Harrison, 27, became the first American judoka to win a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and followed up that feat with another gold at the 2016 games in London. Two months later, she announced her intentions to transition to mixed martial arts, and she recently decided to join the famed American Top Team gym in Coconut Creek, Fla.
Elkin (3-4) is 2-2 in her last four fights. She most recently lost to Amanda Bell at Bellator 181 in July 2017.
PFL 2 will also feature the beginning of the promotion’s lightweight and light heavyweight seasons. Will Brooks vs. Luiz Firmino will headline the card.
Below is a look at the entire card:
Luiz Firmino (20-8) vs. Will Brooks (18-4)
Rashid Magomedov (22-2) vs. Jason High (21-6)
Rashid Yusupov (8-0) vs. Rakim Cleveland (18-9-1)
Kayla Harrison (0-0) vs. Brittney Elkin (3-4)
Brian Foster (27-10) vs. Ramsey Nijem (9-6)
Ronny Markes (17-5) vs. Sean O’Connell (17-9)
Smealinho Rama (10-3) vs. Brandon Halsey (10-3)
Islam Mamedov (14-1) vs. Yuki Kawana (14-1-5)
Maxim Grishin (25-7) vs. Jason Butcher (11-2)
Thiago Tavares (21-7-1) vs. Robert Watley (10-1)
Chris Wade (12-3) vs. Natan Schulte (11-3)
Dan Spohn (16-5) vs. Bazigit Ataev (17-1)
Vinny Magalhaes (14-8) vs. Jamie Abdallah (7-2)
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