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- What: Kayla Harrison vs. Aspen Ladd
- Date: Friday, November 24, 2023
- Location: The Anthem in Washington, D.C.
- Time: Prelims (5:00 p.m. ET) Main Card (8:00 p.m. ET)
- How to Watch: Prelims (ESPN+), Main Card (ESPN+ Pay Per View)
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) wraps up its 2023 season on Friday, November 24, at The Anthem in Washington, DC. Six PFL titles will be on the line, with the winner of those bouts taking home the PFL belt and $1 million. The following titles are up for grabs during the event: Heavyweight, light heavyweight, welterweight, lightweight, featherweight, and women’s featherweight. The main card of the PFL 2023 World Championship streams on ESPN+ PPV.
Also appearing on the pay-per-view card is a women’s 150-pound catchweight matchup between former lightweight champion Kayla Harrison and ex-UFC fighter Aspen Ladd. Here is some background on Harrison and Ladd before we look at the betting breakdown for their fight.
Kayla Harrison (15-1) has not fought since she dropped a unanimous decision to Larissa Pacheco at lightweight in November 2022. Before that loss, Harrison was 15-0 with six knockouts, six submissions, and three decision wins.
Aspen Ladd (11-4) joined the PFL in November 2022 after a 5-0 run with Invicta and a 4-3 run with the UFC. Ladd is 2-1 in the PFL and coming off a June 2023 submission win over Karolina Sobek.
Before we look at the best bets for the Harrison vs. Ladd matchup, check out the best UFC betting sites and our betting picks for the title fights at the 2023 PFL World Championship.
Kayla Harrison vs. Aspen Ladd betting picks
| Fighters |  |  |  |
| Aspen Ladd | +550 | +450 | +400 |
| Kayla Harrison | -750 | -750 | -750 |
Kayla Harrison vs. Aspen Ladd betting breakdown
The MMA world was shocked in November 2022 when Larissa Pacheco overcame steep betting odds to defeat Kayla Harrison. Pacheco was a +480 betting underdog to Harrison, who was the -901 betting favorite in that matchup. Harrison has been inactive since that loss, but the 33-year-old has been working on improving her MMA skills and her mindset ahead of her return bout on the 2023 PFL World Championship Fight Card.
A two-time Olympic gold medal winner in judo, Harrison had already shed the grappler-only tag that sometimes follows fighters with a similar background to hers, picking up six knockout wins during her career. Harrison also showed a willingness to fight outside of her comfort zone, showing that she has stand-up striking and ground striking abilities to go with her mat skills.
The 28-year-old Aspen Ladd struggled with making weight early in her career. With those days seemingly behind her, she has the opportunity to shine under the PFL banner. A chance to face a fighter with the name recognition of Harrison, even if it is on short notice, was something Ladd could not turn down. Like Harrison, Ladd is a grappler first, but unlike Harrison, Ladd has struggled with her striking game. That does not bode well for her against Harrison, who is better than Ladd on the mat. With the short amount of time Ladd has had to prepare for this bout, it’s unlikely she will have the striking skills she needs to defeat Harrison.
Kayla Harrison vs. Aspen Ladd: Who has the edge
It’s hard to see a path to victory in this fight for Aspen Ladd. The only place she has an advantage over Kayla Harrison is in activity, in that she has fought twice since Harrison’s last appearance in the PFL Smart Cage. Harrison is the better grappler, the better striker, and she is stronger than Ladd heading into Friday’s matchup. I also believe Harrison will be more focused. The loss to Pacheco was unexpected, and it hurt Harrison’s career trajectory. She will be anxious to make a statement in this fight. That could cause her to be too aggressive early on, but Ladd’s lack of striking skills hurts Ladd’s chances of exploiting Harrison’s openings if she is too aggressive.
Best bets for Kayla Harrison vs. Aspen Ladd
Kayla Harrison is an overwhelming betting favorite in her matchup opposite Aspen Ladd, as such, she does not present outstanding betting value. However, picking the length of this fight and how it will end presents some betting value. Harrison is the obvious pick to win, but how will she get it done and when?
My betting prediction is for Harrison to win via submission in the fight’s second half. Ladd will want to avoid tangling with Harrison on the feet, leading to clinch work against the cage. From there, Harrison will use her judo skills to get the fight to the mat and score the submission win.
Best betting pick for Kayla Harrison vs. Aspen Ladd: Kayla Harrison to win via submission
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