When you have won two Olympic gold medals your standards are pretty high.
So much so that Kayla Harrison felt obliged to apologise to the fans despite her dominant victory over Russia’s Marina Mokhnatkina in the PFL 3 main event on Saturday (AEST).
The American superstar – who won gold medals in judo in 2012 and 2016 – improved to 13-0 in her mixed martial arts career, which launched as a professional in 2018.
Watch two-time Olympic gold medallist Kayla Harrison and former UFC star Anthony Pettis in the Professional Fighters League. Every fight ad free, live and on demand, only on Stan Sport
But it was only the third time a fight needed to go to the judges as sambo specialist Mokhnatkina made her work for the decision in Arlington, Texas.
All three judges scored it 30-27 in Harrison’s favour yet Mokhnatkina was the one smiling.
“I think it was utter dog crap,” Harrison said in a blunt assessment of her efforts.
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“Sorry to the fans, I wanted to put on a better show for you. These girls are tougher than you think. I make it look easy sometimes but other nights, not so much…
“This is a learning experience. I’m still young in my career. The more time I get the in cage, the better I’m going to get. Ready for the next one.”
Meanwhile, former UFC champion Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis scored his first PFL victory with a round one submission of Irishman Myles Price.
US veteran Pettis lost his first two PFL fights last year, against Raush Manfio and Clay Collard, and admitted to Wide World of Sports that he “didn’t realise how hard it was going to be.”
But with eyes wide open, a determined Pettis rocked Price with an early uppercut that took the fight to the floor and there was only one winner from there.
“Flawless victory for me,” Pettis said. “This year is my year.”
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