Midnight Mania! PFL’s Donn Davis disses Kayla Harrison after UFC exit: ‘A follower who needs validation’

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Kayla Harrison’s star is brighter than ever.

The two-time Olympic Judo gold medalist built up her mixed martial arts (MMA) resume largely in the Professional Fighter’s League (PFL) cage. She made her debut for PFL and became a champion there, building an impressive 16-1 professional record in her five years on the roster. Earlier this year, however, Harrison finally jumped ship for the UFC’s Octagon, a move many fight fans have been eagerly anticipating for years.

The big obstacle was presumed to be weight class, as Harrison had never fought at 135-pounds prior to her UFC debut. Fortunately, the Olympian came prepared, making weight and then dominating former champion Holly Holm en route to a second-round submission victory (watch highlights). At 33 years of age, Harrison is a much-needed injection of talent into the women’s Bantamweight title picture, and most everyone is happy she’s on the UFC roster.

Well, not quite everyone.

Though PFL found Donn Davis had a hand in allowing Harrison to transition to the UFC, he doesn’t appear all that impressed by her decision. In an interview with veteran referee John McCarthy, Davis used a basketball analogy to diss Harrison as “a follower who needs validation.”

“It’s interesting,” Davis said on the Weighing In podcast. “Some people at the very top of their career are LeBron James, and some at the very top of their career are Kevin Durant. And they’re both otherworldly basketball players, but who they are is very different people. One wants to lead and change their sport, and wherever they are is the best in the world. The other is a follower who needs validation, and we couldn’t do anything about that.”

That’s a pretty bold description of the first female Judo gold medalist in American history.

Fortunately, both parties are free to go their separate ways now. Harrison can pursue her UFC title dreams, and she’ll likely find herself in an undisputed title fight sooner than later. Davis, meanwhile, can continue to push the envelop and hold events all around the world … if he can pay his athletes.

Insomnia

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Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.