Preview: 2023 PFL Championships

Women’s Catchweights

Kayla Harrison (15-1, 14-1 PFL) vs. Aspen Ladd (11-4, 2-1 PFL)

After spending most of 2023 on ice, Harrison will return to action for the first time since her upset loss against Larissa Pacheco in the 2022 PFL Championships. The downside to facing a short-notice opponent is that Harrison will not get to complete her second-ever cut to 145 pounds. However, it will be interesting to see what improvements the two-time gold medalist made in the gym during the layoff. Harrison claims the time off was beneficial, both from a physical and mental perspective. Ladd, who replaces Julia Budd, had her best performance to date at PFL 5, where she survived some early adversity against Karolina Sobek to secure a second-round submission. Moving to featherweight has helped the UFC veteran on the scales, but relying on aggression and physicality has proven more difficult in a larger weight class. In many cases, Ladd uses her standup to close the distance and force tie-ups, but that is probably something she will want to avoid against Harrison, whose elite judo background will allow her to execute an array of trips and throws to get her opponent to the canvas.

Overall, there does not seem to be a clear path to victory for Ladd in this 150-pound showcase. Her striking is not good enough to threaten Harrison, and she will struggle create openings for scrambles against what is presumably a more powerful and athletic adversary. Before facing Pacheco, Harrison was the bully in all of her PFL bouts—a trend which will resume in this fight. Ladd has enough big-fight experience not to be in awe of the Olympic gold medalist, but Harrison should be motivated and refreshed after a year away. If Harrison does not win via submission, she still takes a dominant three-round verdict.

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Aubin-Mercier vs. Collard
Goltsov vs. Ferreira
Pacheco vs. Mokhnatkina
Sy vs. Magomedkerimov
Silveira vs. Kasanganay
Harrison vs. Ladd
Cooper vs. Brunson
The Prelims