Combat sports star Kayla Harrison re-signs with Professional Fighters League

• Professional Fighters League has officially re-signed combat sports star Kayla Harrison.
• The deal ends months of speculation that had linked the fighter with UFC and Bellator MMA.

LAS VEGAS — Combat sports star Kayla Harrison has re-signed with Professional Fighters League.

Since making her MMA debut in 2018 with the PFL, the two-time Olympic gold medal-winning judoka has developed into a two-time champion, an unbeaten force in the sport, and a multi-millionaire.

But as her PFL deal expired last season, Harrison tested free agency, talking with the UFC and Bellator MMA, two rival organizations that also coveted her signature.

However, PFL CEO Peter Murray confirmed Friday to Insider that his company re-signed Harrison this week to a "multi-year deal" and will make an imminent announcement as she'll feature prominently in the "upcoming 2022 season on ESPN."

"This is another pivotal moment for the PFL with Kayla's big deal, so we're excited," Murray told Insider.

Murray's statement follows a tweet from PFL founder Donn Davis that ended months of speculation as to where Harrison might ply her trade this year.

He said there is "no fighter like her," adding that Harrison is "authentic, inspiring, vulnerable, baddest, transcendent."

Added Murray: "She's one of the most dominant fighters in the sport today and she's got even more to prove and achieve.

"The next chapter is going to be bright for Kayla and the PFL together," he said.

The new contract makes Harrison the best-paid women's MMA fighter of all time, Murray said. "It's well-deserved based on what she's achieved."

Watch the promo PFL will release Friday right here:

The 2022 PFL season begins April 20 and concludes the day after Thanksgiving, PFL confirmed to Insider last month.

Successful PFL fighters will each receive a million-dollar check at the end of the season, which will take place at three key host venues in strong fight cities across the US.

"The Kayla deal is a major announcement for us, but there's more to come on roster details, which we'll be confirming in the next two weeks," Murray told us.

"We believe it's going to be the best season since our inception."