The Professional Fighters League has invested in Gold Medal-winning judo fighter Kayla Harrison as the "face of its fledgling promotion, and so far it has paid dividends, inside and outside the cage," according to Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com. Harrison is a "budding MMA superstar, and she and the promotion have a strong, symbiotic relationship." Before there were "enough women to fill out a division, the PFL showcased Harrison in three fights to introduce her to the audience." But even with Harrison's "profile on the rise and her lofty goals, there are questions about whether she'll outgrow the PFL." Harrison said that she is signed on through the '20 season, and "beyond that is unknown." She added, "I'm hopeful that the PFL can bring in the top talent and I can stay with the company that I believe in. We'll see." PFL CEO Peter Murray said that broadcast viewership "spikes for PFL on ESPN+ or ESPN2 when Harrison fights," as does the promotion's "social media engagement." Murray: "She's a definite game-changer for the PFL and the sport of MMA" (ESPN.com, 12/27).
