UFC sign PFL star Kayla Harrison and confirm blockbuster Holly Holm clash for UFC 300

Harrison, who is a two-time Judo Olympic gold medallist and a two-time PFL world champion, put pen to paper on an exclusive deal with the UFC.

The news comes as a major blow for the PFL who are striving to become to co-leader in the MMA world.

Harrison was positioned as the face of the PFL since first stepping into the sport back in 2018.

The 33-year-old fought 16 of her 17 pro MMA fights under the PFL banner, including her last outing in November which saw Harrison pick up a unanimous decision against Aspen Ladd.

The American boasts a 16-1 record, with her sole MMA defeat coming against Larissa Pacheco in the 2022 PFL Women’s Lightweight final.

Following the news, Harrison’s manager Ali Abdelaziz told ESPN: "We're extremely grateful for Kayla's amazing career in the PFL.

"She became the fighter she is now with their support. We are nothing but grateful to them and are excited to start a new chapter in the UFC."

Harrison will now set her sights on a blockbuster bout with UFC legend Holly Holm.

The 42-year-old, who has suffered just one defeat from her last five fights, is looking to make one final run at the UFC title.

Raquel Pennington is the current UFC bantamweight champion after beating Mayra Bueno Silva for the vacant title last Saturday night.