Tag: Holly Holm

Ahead of her Octagon debut next month in a potential title-eliminator against former bantamweight champion, Holly Holm, Kayla Harrison has vowed to put on such a vicious beating on the Albuquerque veteran at UFC 300, that the promotion will be left with no option to hand her a shot at gold.

Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medal winner and a two-time lightweight tournament victor under the banner of the PFL (Professional Fighters League) – made her long-anticipated move to the UFC late last year, booking a promotional bow with the returning ex-gold holder, Holm.

And opening as both a significant betting favorite to beat the boxing Hall of Fame inductee next month in Las Vegas, and stunningly, to hold the bantamweight title by the end of this year, Harrison most recently turned in a decision win over Octagon-alum, Aspen Ladd back in November of last year in Washington.

Plotting a championship charge against newly-minted gold holder, Raquel Pennington off the back of The Ultimate Fighter veteran’s shutout win over Mayra Bueno Silva back in January, Harrison was promptly urged her hold her proverbial horses.

Kayla Harrison plans title fight after UFC 300 debut

However, speaking during a Q&A session today ahead of UFC 299 this weekend in Miami, Florida, American Top Team staple, Harrison vowed to leave herself irresistible to a title charge – with a dominant win over storied contender, Holm next month at UFC 300.

“I plan on putting on such a beating that they [the UFC] have no choice but to give me a title shot after that,” Kayla Harrison told assembled media and fans during today’s Q&A ahead of UFC 300. 

Kayla Harrison on getting a title shot after facing Holly Holm at #UFC300

"I plan on putting on such a beating that they have no choice but to give me a title shot after that."

— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) March 8, 2024

Slated to make bantamweight waters for the first time in her storied and already-illustrious mixed martial arts career, 33-year-old Ohio native was backed to comfortably make 135 pounds by promotional CEO, Dana White ahead of the event next month. 

Urging fans and pundits to remain calm regarding her impending weight cut to bantamweight for the first time in her career, Harrison claimed there was a strange idea floating around regarding her apparent stature – in the region of 180 pounds. 

“There’s a misconception out there that I walk around at 180 pounds or something,” Kayla Harrison said. “I have walked around most of my MMA career at 165 [pounds], 160 [pounds]. I don’t like cutting weight. I don’t believe in cutting weight. I don’t think it sends the right message to kids. That being said, I don’t agree with this but sometimes you have to show up and do things you don’t agree with in order to make your dreams come true.”

“The whole time I was [in the PFL], I walked around at 165, maybe 160 and so not only was I usually the smaller fighter with less experience,” Kayla Harrison explained. “I was getting in the cage with girls who were getting in there at 180 [pounds], 175 pounds. Now, that’s not going to be the case.”

Drafting a long-time foe of Harrison into her camp for UFC 300, Holm has brought former opponent and dominant current Bellator MMA featherweight queen, and former UFC champion, Cris Cyborg to New Mexico to help her prepare for her comeback.

Who wins at UFC 300 next month: Kayla Harrison or Holly Holm?

Former undisputed bantamweight champion, Holly Holm has shot down the possibility of fighting incoming debutante, Kayla Harrison, if the Ohio native fails to make the bantamweight limit successfully in her upcoming bow at UFC 300 in April.

Holm, the second undisputed bantamweight champion in the history of the promotion, and the inaugural featherweight title chaser, has been sidelined since she headlined an August event at the UFC Apex facility against recent title challenger, Mayra Bueno Silva, in an eventual official ‘No Contest’.

As for Harrison, the high-profile Octagon acquisition is slated to make her long-anticipated debut in the promotion at UFC 300 – boasting a 16-1 professional record, as well as two separate summer Olympic Games gold medal wins in Judo, and a pair of PFL lightweight tournament victories since her move to the sport.

And despite opening as a significant betting favorite to beat Holm in her landing at UFC 300, Harrison has been the subject of speculation regarding her ability to successful cut to the 136lbs non-title limit for the first time since her mixed martial arts career began.

Holly Holm urges Kayla Harrison to make weight at UFC 300

Promotional CEO, Dana White has claimed recently how the American Top Team staple has successfully made multiple test weight cuts to the bantamweight limit ahead of her move, however, as far as Holm is concerned, there will be no fight against Kayla Harrison in April if the latter fails to tip the scales successfully.

“I’m on the stance that you need to make weight, that’s just how it is,” Holly Holm told MMA Fighting. “I think that her (Kayla Harrison) mindset should be on, ‘I’m going to make weight,’ because she took the fight at 135 [pounds]. So, I think it’s simple. I don’t think it should be super detailed.”

“You think about that fight with ‘Wonderboy’ [and Michel Pereira],” Holly Holm continued. “His opponent came in three pounds over and people were like, ‘Oh, it’s only three rounds.’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah, if it’s only three pounds, then go lose the three pounds.’ You know what I mean? There’s two ways to look at it. It’s only this or it’s only that. You can look at it from a lot of different antles, but as a professional, find out how to make weight. I work hard to make my weight, so I expect the same.” 

Who wins at UFC 300: Holly Holm or Kayla Harrison?

Former two-time PFL (Professional Fighters League) lightweight tournament victor, Kayla Harrison will have no struggle making the 135 pound limit for the first time in her fighting career, according to Dana White, with the CEO confident of the Ohio native’s ability to hit the mark inaugurally at UFC 300 in April.

Harrison, a former two-time lightweight tournament victor under the Peter Murray-led PFL banner, also struck gold twice in separate summer Olympic Games, partaking in Judo.

And forever linked with a potential move to the Octagon since transitioning to mixed martial arts back in 2018, Harrison had been linked with a super fight of sorts against former two-division gold holder, Amanda Nunes prior to the Brazilian’s retirement in June of last year.

Booked to finally make good on that move, Harrison, 33, will take on former undisputed bantamweight champion, Holly Holm at UFC 300 in April – in a potential title-eliminator.

And widely backed as a betting favorite to beat the Albuquerque veteran in her Octagon landing, fans have questioned Harrison’s ability to make a drastic cut to 135 pounds in order to compete in the bantamweight division – amid a fleeting and featherweight class likely on borrowed time – if not un-officially axed. 

Kayla Harrison backed to make 135 pounds

As far as the aforenoted, White is concerned, however, fans should be rest assured of Harrison’s ability to make the bantamweight limit – following several successful test-cuts.

“She’s (Kayla Harrison) already made 135 [pounds] a couple of times,” Dana White siad during an Instagram Live session this week. 

On IG Live, Dana White says that Kayla Harrison has done multiple test weight cuts to 135 pounds and he has no concerns about her being able to make weight.

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) January 25, 2024

In her most recent outing, Harrison, who boasts an impressive 16-1 professional record, landed a decision win over former UFC bantamweight contender, Aspen Ladd at PFL 10 back in November of last year in Washington. 

Does Kayla Harrison beat Holly Holm at UFC 300 in April?