One of the most decorated athletes in female combat sports history, Kayla Harrison is just one fight away from adding a UFC championship belt to her impressive résumé.
Harrison (18-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) won two Olympic gold medals in judo before transitioning to mixed martial arts in 2018. She made an immediate impact in the PFL smartcage, winning the organization's world tournaments in both 2019 and 2021, competing at 155 pounds.
After fulfilling her contract with the PFL, the 34-year-old made headlines last year by announcing she was set to sign with the UFC and move down two weight classes to compete in the bantamweight division.
Harrison dominated and submitted former champion Holly Holm in her Octagon debut at UFC 300 last June, then went on to secure a decision victory over Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307 in October. She is now set to face Julianna Peña (11-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) in a bantamweight title fight at UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey, on June 7.
Peña became champion for the second time in October when she dethroned Raquel Pennington. While that achievement makes her one of the most credentialed female fighters in UFC history, Harrison isn't convinced that "The Venezuelan Vixen" belongs among the sport's all-time best.
"We'll find out", Harrison responded when asked this week by Ariel Helwani just how highly Peña ranks among the great female fighters in UFC history. "I mean, you know, there's always that little bit of unknown when you fight a new opponent. So, yeah, I think that like skill wise, I don't think she's the top of the top. But I think in terms of like heart and maybe experience, you know, she's got some good experience and she's definitely got confidence. I would argue cockiness maybe. So, yeah, she's going to be...I don't know. We'll see".
Kayla Harrison Thinks Juliana Peña Is "Just Pretty Dumb Sometimes"
Peña has never shied away from the opportunity to throw shade at Harrison. From accusations of steroid use to finding fault with her performance against Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307, the champion has been vocal and persistent in her criticism of the former Olympian.
However, Harrison isn't bothered by Peña's words.
"I mean, okay, like I want to have a lot of respect for Juliana because she's a single mom", Harrison said. "She's like a veteran of the sport. She like scratched and clawed her way to the top. She believed in herself when nobody believed in her. Like, I really want to have like I want to have admiration for her. And I think probably deep down I do.
"And I love that she's like confident and she says what she thinks. And but she's just pretty like dumb sometimes. So it's hard. It's difficult. I mean, just like some of the stuff she's just like, you know, cheesy, like very cringe. You know, she reminds me a lot of like Henry (Cejudo), like trying so trying too hard a little bit, trying too hard".
She may still be acclimating to a new weight class, but Harrison has looked imperious inside the Octagon so far, and she expects that trend to continue when she faces Peña at UFC 316.
"Yeah, I think I'm just going to dominate", she repiled when Helwani asked for a prediction for June 7. "I think I'm going to go out there and instill my will. I think she's going to try and pressure and, like, maybe, you know, she's nuts. Like, I'll give her that. She's got heart and she's nuts. She'll just keep coming forward. And I think that I'm going to fight a smart fight and whoop her ass".
