Thursday night’s PFL Playoffs fight card ended with a high-profile scrap, as Kayla Harrison took on Genah Fabian. 


Fighting for the right to face Taylor Guardado (who won earlier on the card) in the 2021 PFL World Championship, this fight represented a classic “grappler vs. striker” showdown. 


Harrison, the two-time Olympic gold medalist and 2019 PFL Women’s Lightweight champion, came into the bout undefeated through 10 professional fights. She’s used her Judo background to overwhelm and crush opponents, leaving many to wonder who could possibly top her inside the cage. 


Could the Muay Thai specialist Fabian be the one to finally solve the riddle and pull off the upset? 


Here’s how the fight played out inside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. 

 


Round 1 


Harrison with some head movement and feints to kick this one off. Fabian circles to her left as she gets a feel for the range. A light leg kick comes up short from Fabian, and Harrison presses forward. She bullies Fabian into the cage, and this marks Fabian’s first big test of the fight. 


One minute gone, and Fabian is still on her feet, back pressed to the cage. Harrison lands a series of knees and looks for a trip, but Fabian maintains her balance and avoids it.


Midway through the ground, Harrison gets a high body lock and drags Fabian to the ground, landing directly in side control. She steps into mount and begins raining down punishment. This isn’t going to end well for Fabian. 


Harrison takes the back, flattens out Fabian, and the punches pick up in both frequency and intensity. This one is seconds away from being called … and there it is. 


The referee has seen enough. Kayla Harrison wins –– again –– and moves to 11-0 in her career. 

 


Verdict


Another fight, another utterly dominant victory for Harrison. The story’s the same every time she steps into the cage. 


Guardado gets the next shot at cracking the Harrison code at the PFL World Championships, live from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 27. 


Official Result: Kayla Harrison def. Genah Fabian via TKO, Round 1 (4:01)