10. Kayla Harrison Making 135 Pounds
Two-time PFL tournament winner and Olympic gold medalist in Judo Kayla Harrison has been one of the top stars to have never been in the Octagon for several years and UFC 300 will mark her promotional debut. However, the occasion comes with a huge caveat: she must make the massive cut to bantamweight for the first time in her career.
Originally, Harrison debuted in the PFL in 2018 as a lightweight and built up her career to a respectable 15-1 record with the brand. A breath of fresh air in the heavier women’s weight classes that have historically lacked depth, the Ohioan turned Florida resident quickly became the centerpiece of the growing PFL promotion. Her run culminated in 2022 where Harrison dominated the competition en route to becoming a back-to-back champion and million dollar prize winner. Coupled with the fact that her skills on the microphone blossomed as well and Harrison was seen as one of the most coveted free agents the sport had ever seen and by far the most sought after female fighter to entertain offers from promotions on the market.
Going into 2024, Harrison elected to sign with the UFC rather than continue with the PFL for what she admitted in a recent Q and A might well be her last fight contract. Per reports, the UFC was no longer interested in maintaining a featherweight division which meant Harrison would need to cut down to 135 pounds if she wished to compete in the Octagon. Per her own admission years ago, Harrison said she would need to “cut off her leg” to make the bantamweight limit and in professional mixed martial arts has only made featherweight (ten pounds heavier than bantamweight) once.
The stakes are obvious for all to see: A victory over former champion Holly Holm would make Harrison an immediate contender in a division sorely lacking in fresh title threats. However, the cut is expected to be extreme and even if she can hit the mark on Friday morning there is a great chance it leaves her more depleted than we’ve ever seen before in the cage on Saturday.
The disciplined judoka has never backed down from a challenge, but this may be the first time where she faces as great challenge before the fight as she does inside of it.
