UFC bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison is already looking beyond her current division, suggesting her days at 135 pounds may be numbered as she recovers from neck surgery.
Harrison (19-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC), a two-time Olympic judo gold medalist, is sidelined after suffering an injury during preparation for her highly anticipated superfight with former champion Amanda Nunes. The bout was originally scheduled for UFC 324 in January but was postponed due to the injury.
Speaking recently on Jorge Masvidal’s podcast, Death Row MMA, Harrison made it clear that her long-term plans may not include staying in the bantamweight division.
“Yeah, dude. That's the plan,” Harrison said when asked about the possibility of moving up. “I mean, they don't know it, but once I [beat] Amanda, I'm just gonna be like, ‘Listen…’”
Harrison revealed that she intends to push the UFC to create a women’s featherweight division (145 pounds), a weight class that has historically lacked depth and consistency in the promotion.
“I’m going to ask them to make a 145 (division) so I can be more active,” she explained.
The 35-year-old has previously competed at higher weight classes earlier in her MMA career and has been open about the physical toll of cutting down to 135 pounds.
“It’s just like taking years off my life. I’m not gonna lie to you,” Harrison admitted.
Despite her desire to move up, Harrison left the door open for a high-profile bout at bantamweight against reigning flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko, whom she described as a “legacy fight.”
“Unless Valentina wants to fight,” Harrison said. “Because I know she's a 125er. Then I would cut down again because she's a legacy fight… I’d fight her at 35.”
Shevchenko, widely regarded as one of the greatest female fighters of all time alongside Nunes and Ronda Rousey, has long dominated the flyweight division. A potential clash with Harrison would represent a rare cross-divisional superfight.
For now, Harrison’s immediate focus remains on recovery and rescheduling her showdown with Nunes. But her comments signal a possible shift in the UFC’s women’s divisions, especially if the promotion entertains her push for a revitalized featherweight class.
