Kayla
Harrison might very well be the person nobody in the
UFC women’s bantamweight division wants to face.
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After a dominant stoppage win against Holly Holm in
her promotional — and 135-pound — debut at UFC
300, the two-time Olympic gold medalist will return to action
to face Ketlen
Vieira at UFC 307
in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Saturday. On that same card, reigning
bantamweight queen Raquel
Pennington will defend her belt against Julianna
Pena in the co-main event. Both Pennington and Pena have not
been shy about voicing their displeasure when it comes to
Harrison’s quick ascent through the division.
“I think everyone knows that it is only a matter of time [before I
become champion],” Harrison recently told ESPN. “When the truth don’t hurt, they start
telling lies.”
Pena, who hasn’t fought since a July 2022 title loss to Amanda
Nunes,
has questioned whether Harrison is a clean athlete.. The former
PFL champion has consistently brushed off those accusations,
instead preferring to take Pena’s claims as a compliment.
Pereira vs. Rountree Jr. Saturday at 10 ET on ESPN+. Order
Now!
“I think people forget that the first time I was tested by the
USADA I was 12 years old,” Harrison said. “They came to my middle
school. … I was on the National [judo] roster and have been
tested since then.”
Harrison pointed out to ESPN that she is currently the second-most
tested fighter in the UFC’s anti-doping database. Her 10 tests are
second only to former two-division champion Conor
McGregor.
“I have never taken steroids and I never will,” she said. “I don’t
believe in it, especially in our sport it is borderline dangerous
when you are inflicting damage on each other. I would never taint
my legacy in that way.”