Miami, FL — Former two-time PFL women’s lightweight champ Kayla Harrison is set to make her UFC debut next month, in a big way.
Harrison (16-1) has all the marketability of a Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Holly Holm or Amanda Nunes, and she’ll debut against one of that group at UFC 300. The milestone event will see Harrison take on Holly Holm, and she knows just what Holm represents, and what a win could mean.
“I don’t use the word legend lightly, but I think Holly is very much a legend in the sport. She’s been in the top 10 for years now, she’s been a former champ,” Harrison noted during a UFC 300 Q&A on Friday at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. “I didn’t come over here to just see how I can do and fight amongst everyone. I’m here to come over and win a UFC title and finish my career on top, and Holly’s a good start to that.”
Much of Friday’s Q&A, the media portion of it at least, was focused on her drop to bantamweight. Harrison has never fought at 135lbs before, and competed as a featherweight just once, during the coronavirus pandemic for Invicta FC while on loan from the PFL.
“I’m coming for a UFC title, so f*cking come hell or high water, 135, here I come,” Harrison exclaimed. Later, she’d tell Cageside Press that bantamweight was never a thought until the current UFC opportunity arose.
“Well, really, bantamweight became a reality and is going to become a reality on April 12 [UFC 300 weigh-in day]. It’s not something I had considered before, but I knew that again, whatever contract I signed was going to be the last contract. This opportunity arose. I don’t want to look back on my life and say ‘what if, what if, what if?’ Yes, it’s a sacrifice, yes it sucks. I miss pizza, I miss cookies, I miss brownies, but I do believe that UFC gold will be worth it.”
Realistically, the goal was always the UFC for Kayla Harrison, despite a lengthy honeymoon period with the PFL. “I think when I first started MMA, the goal was always to become a UFC champion. It’s been a lot of highs and lows and some bumps along the way, but ultimately this was the goal when I came to MMA. I knew that whatever contract I signed was probably going to be the last contract I signed. And if not now, then when? I’m ready, I’m willing, I’m able. I don’t want to look back and be 70 years old and say ‘f*ck I wish I’d given it a shot.’ So it’s time to go, baby!”
As for Kayla’s thoughts on the bantamweight division, “my thoughts are, there’s a new sheriff in town,” she said, promo-style, “and on April 13, everybody’s going to find out.”
As for the possibility of a title shot emerging from Kayla Harrison’s fight with Holly Holm, “this sport is crazy,” the two-time Olympic gold medalist suggested. “You’ve got to take it one fight at a time. My focus is on April 13, UFC 300, Las Vegas, live, Holly Holm and me are going to throw down in the cage. And I plan on putting on such a beating that they have no choice but to give me the title shot after that. It’s in my hands.”
Watch the full UFC 300 Q&A in Miami with Kayla Harrison, Alex Pereira, and Arman Tsarukyan above.
