Genah Fabian: Kayla Harrison Isn’t Fighting ‘A Girl She Can Just Run Over’ in PFL Playoffs

Genah Fabian was supposed to face Kayla Harrison under the Professional Fighters League banner in 2019, but a difficult weight cut forced her to withdraw from that bout.

Timing is everything, and the City Kickboxing representative believes that delay was actually a blessing in disguise. Fabian will now face the two-time Olympic gold medalist in the main event of a PFL playoff card at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., on Thursday night. The winner will advance to the women’s lightweight finals on Oct. 27 for a shot at $1 million.

“I was just uneducated about a few things, and that affected me come weight cut time,” Fabian said of her past issues during a media call on Monday. “I’m a big girl — [5-foot-11] — so I carry a lot of muscle and whatnot. Unfortunately that time, I had cut things out a bit too early. Therefore when it come time for the big cut, my body shut down. It was a very tough heartbreaking time. You work so hard toward something.

“I am a true believer, as cliche as it might sound, that everything does happen for a reason. I’m not just a different fighter now. I’m in a different space. I’m a different person with my team, with my home. I’m just in a much better space.”

Fabian has been victorious in both of her PFL appearances thus far in 2021, taking a unanimous decision over Laura Sanchez on May 6 before stopping Julija Pajic via second-round technical knockout on June 25.

Overall, Fabian has won three consecutive outings since dropping her promotional debut to Bobbi Jo Dalziel in May 2019. The 31-year-old known as “Fabioso” credits a return home to New Zealand and her work with City Kickboxing for her resurgence.

“I was based in California and I was training and living out in the Bay Area at that point. Throughout that time, I had a longing to be back home with my family and my team, my home team — City Kickboxing. But I stayed loyal to the process and I didn’t want any major distractions throughout that time,” Fabian said.

“Since my first fight with PFL, I’ve obviously migrated and shipped back home. That’s been the biggest benefit for me. Here, it’s no secret we’ve caught an incredible team, an amazing successful gym that’s booming right now. It’s being back with my roots, back with my coach, back with my people. That gives me more power. If you get it, you get it.”

Fabian, of course, will be a massive underdog against Harrison, who is the defending PFL lightweight champion and undefeated in 10 professional fights.

“I’m a different breed and a different style,” Fabian said. “All respect to Kayla, she’s done the job she’s done with her past opponents. Everyone’s unbeatable until they’re beaten.”

Fabian is confident she has several assets in her favor, including her striking ability and her overall size.

“It’s a classic striker vs. grappler, but it’s a bit more than that,” she said. “I’m a really well-versed, well-timed, well-positioned striker. Anyone can go out and slang and bang and be tough and hit hard. I’ve definitely got the skills to get the job done on my end.

“I’m a sizey girl, I am a true 155-er. Kayla’s not coming up against a girl she can just run over. I’m a bigger girl, too. The physicality of that, there’s a big difference between her past opponents to myself. Just a different breed of mentality.”

Fabian is well aware that she could reach a whole new level of recognition if she is able to dispatch the PFL’s biggest star. For now, though, she’s been enjoying the underdog role.

“I haven’t really given too much thought to what will happen, how will my life change. I know it will be a massive, massive upset and it will propel me to another level,” she said.

“I’ve been enjoying this quiet time of being an underdog, being looked over. This dismissive behavior. I’ll play it to my favor. I want to enjoy this quiet time because I know it will be crazy.”