Ailin
Perez called out Kayla
Harrison after her win over Joselyne
Edwards at UFC 302
on Saturday.
Advertisement
Perez and Edwards looked to settle their rivalry, which started
with an altercation at the UFC Performance Institute in November
2023. “Fiona” survived a blatant head butt from Edwards and went on
to register a unanimous decision victory in their preliminary
bantamweight bout at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The Argentine standout subsequently called out two-time Olympic
gold medalist Kayla
Harrison.
Elaborating on her callout, Perez noted that the former
Professional Fighters League lightweight champ currently has a
lot of clout in the division. Perez wants to fight Harrison in a
main event, which would be the first five rounder of the
Argentine’s career if it comes to fruition.
“Yes, I called out Kayla
Harrison back there in the interview,” Perez said during a
post-fight media scrum. “This is the name
that’s resounding in the division right now. Because mine’s going
to be sounding really good in the future. I want that fight, I want
to fight her. I want a main event. I do have the cardio and the
heart for five rounds and also, I got some big ovaries. Dana give
me this fight, I deserve it.”
According to Perez, a lot of fighters are ducking Harrison because
of the Olympic judoka’s impressive skillset. However, Perez is
willing to make a quick turnaround to face Harrison.
“Every girl seems to be afraid of Kayla
Harrison, because of her physical condition, her experience,
her power, her ground game, submissions,” Perez said. “But I will
train for this fight, I will get prepared. I will be ready go for
it, and I want to prove that I can do this in five rounds. And I
can do this as soon as possible, say in a couple of months, or even
before.”
Currently unranked at bantamweight, Perez has now racked up three
consecutive unanimous decision wins after suffering a submission
loss against Stephanie
Egger in her UFC debut in September 2022. Meanwhile, Harrison
submitted former champ Holly Holm in
her promotional debut at UFC
300 in April.