Kayla Harrison heard UFC bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington is hurt.
That’s why the former PFL titleholder was looking to score an interim title fight against one-time bantamweight champion Julianna Pena, who is expected to return from a prolonged rib injury later this year. Unfortunately, nobody checked with “Rocky.”
“Interim title??? She needs to calm down,” Pennington told ESPN MMA. “I’ve already discussed a timeframe for a title defense later this year.”
Harrison, 33, made her UFC debut at the UFC 300 event last weekend in Las Vegas, steamrolling former bantamweight champion Holly Holm with a second-round submission. As for Pennington, 35, she’s coming off a decision victory over Mayra Bueno Silva at UFC 297 earlier this year in Toronto.
Debuting at No. 4 in the official UFC rankings, Harrison trails the aforementioned Pena and Silva, as well as Ketlen Vieira, in the 135-pound pecking order.
Hopefully matchmakers can sort this out sooner, rather than later.