Kayla Harrison was ready for a title shot after making her debut at UFC 300, but if she has to win one more fight to get there, so be it.
The former PFL champion—currently No. 1 at 135 pounds in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings—believed her second bout in the UFC could have gold on the line but in the end the matchmakers decided to pit bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington against Julianna Peña in the UFC 307 co-main event. Harrison now faces Ketlen Vieira on the same card and she plans on sending both champion and challenger a rather emphatic message come Oct. 5.
“I mean, look, I’m not the most patient person,” Harrison told MMA Fighting. “I feel like that has always been a struggle for me. Like I want it and I want it on my time. I want when I say I want it, not for me, God’s time. So I was hopeful — I just feel ready. I’m ready. I’m ready for everyone in the division. I’m ready to go out there and prove that I am the best in the world and I deserve to be UFC champion.
“Having said that, I think that a lot of people wanted me to fight for the title, but from what I understand, Dana [White] is a man of his word and he made a promise to Julianna so it’s her turn now. Whoever wins that fight, enjoy it while you can. That’s all I’ve got to say about that.”
When it comes to that matchup, Harrison doesn’t really care who wins so long as she gets the next title shot, although stylistically she slightly favors Peña in that regard.
At the same time, the two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo acknowledges that Peña’s lengthy layoff — she hasn’t fought in nearly two and a half years — could play a factor in the outcome of the fight.
“I just think for me, I tend lean towards the grappler-heavy style,” Harrison explained. “So I know Julianna’s a little bit more of a grappler, I would say than Raquel. Raquel’s just [a] tough, durable, boxer. She’s decent everywhere but her strength is more in her striking and her dirty boxing. I would say Julianna’s strength is more in her grappling so I tend to lean towards the grapplers.
“Having said that, I think this is a 50/50 fight. Julianna hasn’t fought in so long. Ring rust in a real thing, in my opinion. Raquel is champion of the world and when you’re champion of the world, that gives you a certain confidence in yourself and your skills and your team. Make no mistake, stepping into a cage and locking the door is f*cking terrifying. The mental side of this sport is so much bigger than I think people can process. Being a champion, I think makes a difference.”
Even before she signed with the UFC as one of the biggest free agents in the sport, Harrison had already exchanged more than a few words with Peña through interviews and over social media.
Peña has made inflammatory statements about Harrison including an accusation that Harrison has used performance-enhancing drugs. Harrison has never tested positive for a banned substance and she vehemently pointed out that she’s endured a lifetime of drug testing as a member of the U.S. Olympic judo team through two separate cycles across eight years.
Because the war of words between them has turned nasty at times, Harrison admits it would be more gratifying to take the title from Peña if that’s how it all plays out, but she certainly won’t scoff at facing Pennington if she’s still the champion after UFC 307.
“I mean listen, would I rather put an elbow through Julianna’s skull or Raquel’s skull — Julianna, everyday of the week that ends in ‘Y,’” Harrison said. “But no emotion.
“This is my job. This is what I do. I’ll fight whoever’s in front of me. But having said that, yeah, for sure I would definitely enjoy [beating Peña]. That would be a great night for me.”
