„If you’re asking me who I think is going to
win that fight, looking at it right now, I’d say Holly.“@MieshaTate
breaks down the x-factors of the
#UFC300 matchup between Kayla Harrison & Holly Holm.MMA Today | 🎙️ @RJcliffordMMA
@AngieOverkill
pic.twitter.com/bKdLXtnwt3— MMA on SiriusXM (@MMAonSiriusXM)
January 26, 2024
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In what proved to be the suprise announcement of the past week,
Dana White revealed that two-time Professional Fighters League
champ Kayla
Harrison would make her Octagon debut against Holly Holm at
UFC
300.
While Harrison’s signing was news enough, the UFC CEO also
confirmed that the bout against Holm would be contested at 135
pounds. Harrison has competed at lightweight for the majority of
her professional career, making 145 pounds just once for an
appearance under the
Invicta Fighting Championships banner in 2020.
Count former UFC bantamweight queen Miesha Tate,
who briefly tried her hand at 125 pounds, among those who are
skeptical about the transition.
“When I saw it was at 135, I was shocked, because Kayla
Harrison begged for 155-pound division at PFL and she got it
and I think she’s been great there. She’s been tremendous. I know
she’s made 145 before, I think it was tough for her. I think 135 is
going to really suck the life out of her, and it’s not the best
move,” Tate said on SiriusXM.
“I guess I’m speaking from personal experience, because when I went
down to 125—although I did it and I still had a pretty decent
camp—I just didn’t perform at my best, and I think Kayla is just
used to being such a big, strong woman, that she won’t have that on
her side, and I’m really curious to see how that’s going to benefit
her with someone like Holly, who really does move so well. She
really has some of the best footwork in the women’s divisions, and
I think that’s going to be tough for Kayla.”
A two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, the 33-year-old Harrison
has been victorious in 16 of her first 17 fights. Her lone defeat
came in an upset loss to Larissa
Pacheco at the 2022 PFL Championships. The 42-year-old Holm,
meanwhile, has arguably fought tougher competition during her UFC
tenure, but she is currently the underdog against Harrison.
““I’m pumped for Kayla,” Tate said. “I’m excited for her to come
over here. I think it’s going to be really good, but if you’re
asking me who I think is going to win that fight, looking at it
right now, I would say Holly.”