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Kayla Harrison reveals doubts about ‘Mental hurdle’ of making bantamweight bow at UFC 300: ‘Can I do this?’

Former PFL women’s lightweight champion Kayla Harrison will be dropping 20lbs to lightweight to face Holly Holm in her…

Former PFL women’s lightweight champion Kayla Harrison will be dropping 20lbs to lightweight to face Holly Holm in her promotional debut at UFC 300.

It was revealed that Harrison had signed with the UFC and she would make her debut at UFC 300 against the former champ in Holm. It was a massive fight for her, but the bigger story was the fact that she would be dropping down to bantamweight, which Harrison says was a mental hurdle for her.

“To their credit, they did not beat around the bush,” Harrison told MMA Junkie of the UFC’s negotiation. “It was very clear that if you want to fight here, this is the weight you’re going to fight at, and that was a big mental hurdle for me to get through – just figure out: Can I do this? Is this what I want to do? It’s hard, because most people don’t realize that I’ve been training two-a-day since I was 12 years old.

Holly Holm calls for UFC Hall of Fame induction soon — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

“There was definitely a piece of me that was like, ‘F*ck that. You’ve done enough. Why would you spend the last part of your career cutting an extra 10 pounds? Like, why?’ Then there was another part piece of me that was like, ‘Well, we grow at the edges of our comfort zone, and this is you being all in. It doesn’t get much harder than this. You’re cutting to a new weight class, you’re fighting in the promotion, and you’re fighting the legend. This is it. You’re either all in or not in.’ I liked that, and I think that brings out the best version of me,” Harrison added.

Kayla Harrison not worried about depleting herself

Despite Kayla Harrison cutting down more weight, she doesn’t expect that will impact her chin or strength. Instead, she has confidence she will be able to compete at her best and secure a win over Holm.

Kayla Harrison odds released on future bantamweight title win ahead of UFC 300 by end of 2024

“I don’t think I’m going to lose anything,” Harrison said. “I think we’re going to see the best version of me. I’ve been disciplined. I’ve been dedicated. I haven’t skipped any steps. I haven’t left a stone unturned. My team is all in, I’m all in, my family’s all in, and I think I’m about to shine really f*cking bright.”

If Harrison can get past Holm, the Olympic gold medalist could get a title shot at 135lbs next time out.

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PFL founder Donn Davis laments blown opportunity to book Kayla Harrison vs. Cris Cyborg fight

PFL founder Donn Davis was disappointed to lose Kayla Harrison but remains confident that the promotion will get along…

PFL founder Donn Davis was disappointed to lose Kayla Harrison but remains confident that the promotion will get along just fine without her.

After securing her 16th career win against Aspen Ladd at the 2023 PFL World Championships last year, Davis was under the impression that Harrison had one more fight on her contract. Then suddenly, his star was gone. The two-time Olympic gold medalist unceremoniously walked away from the PFL to sign with the UFC. Scheduled to make her promotional debut on April 13 at UFC 300, Harrison is set to square off with former bantamweight women’s champion Holly Holm.

Speaking on Harrison’s exit during an appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Davis offered his honest take on what happened between the two parties and his reaction to losing their biggest star.

“I don’t know,” Davis said. “And I talked to Kayla, and I believe Kayla and I have a very good relationship, and I don’t know [what happened]. So I can only speculate and I don’t really like to speculate about things that are about other people.

“So one, I don’t know, and two, I’m disappointed. So I think – unlike Dana [White] when he talks about other fighters, tends to be negative if they leave, tends to be negative if they don’t do what UFC wants them to do – here, I’m disappointed. PFL, in six years, has never lost a fighter, and remember, in year one and year two and year three, PFL was not a strong company. We’re a new company, so there were many reasons for fighters to leave and they never did. Now, did we release up fighters? Yes. Did we upgrade fighters? Yes, because we were always getting better. Never had a fighter leave, so this is the first time in six years.

“And ironically, PFL had never been stronger and the matchups we had for Kayla Harrison, were better than the matchups she was going to get at UFC. She was going to fight Cris Cyborg, which I believe is the biggest fight available in the women’s division possible. It’s a legacy, career statement fight for her. [Then] Larisa Pacheco, who beat her fair and square. So Kayla’s, call it next two to three fights at PFL are harder than they are at UFC, are bigger than they are at UFC. So I don’t know. I really can’t explain her motivations for leaving, and I was disappointed.”

Making her PFL debut in 2018, Kayla Harrison amassed an impressive 16-1 record with all, but one of her fights coming inside the Smart Cage. Despite coming up short for the first time against Larissa Pacheco in the 2022 PFL women’s lightweight final, Harrison was still primed for a clash with reigning Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg.

The fight was all, but guaranteed after the PFL absorbed Bellator late last year, but with Harrison’s move to the UFC, there’s a strong possibility that we will never see Harrison vs. Cyborg come to fruition.

Will Kayla Harrison ever fight Cris Cyborg?

Donn Davis believes the PFL will get along just fine without Kayla Harrison

It’s an unfortunate realization for Davis, but he remains confident that the promotion will move forward and establish itself as the co-leader of mixed martial arts in the coming years rather than continuing to be a distant second to Dana White and Co.

“That being said, because PFL has never been stronger – 80 fighters ranked in the top 25, 33 fighters ranked in the top 15 – we’re fine,” Davis explained. “It’s almost like when people post about UFC, they’re always fine if Connor’s not fighting this year or something like that. So our brand, our ratings, our financials, zero impact to Kayla not being here.

“But personally, I don’t like when any fighter leaves. So I wish she was here.”

Exclusive – Raquel Pennington claims Kayla Harrison set to find herself ‘Exposed’ in UFC 300 debut fight

Newly-minted undisputed bantamweight champion, Raquel Pennington claims if soon-to-be common-foe, Holly Holm turns it on against incoming debutante, Kayla…

Newly-minted undisputed bantamweight champion, Raquel Pennington claims if soon-to-be common-foe, Holly Holm turns it on against incoming debutante, Kayla Harrison in their massive UFC 300 fight next month – the Albuquerque striker could upset the apple cart and hand the former an Octagon debut loss.

Pennington, an alum of The Ultimate Fighter, finally struck Octagon gold at the second time of trying earlier this year in the co-main event of UFC 297 – landing a one-sided unanimous decision win over surging Brazilian phenom, Mayra Bueno Silva in the pair’s vacant title affair.

Raquel Pennington opens as betting favorite to beat Julianna Peña after UFC 297 title win

And becoming the division’s first champion in absence of the retired, Amanda Nunes – who briefly entertained a return following the Colorado native’s respective ascension, Pennington has firmly found herself in the crosshairs of chasing back, Harrison, and ex-champion, Julianna Peña.

Welcoming the chance to land a first title fight defense against Washington native, Peña in her return to the Octagon later this year, Pennington has been vocal about a potential showdown with former PFL champion, Harrison in the future – although questioned how the two-time Olympic gold medalist could cut the cue at 135 pounds.

Making her long-anticipated first outing under the Dana White-led banner next month on a monumental UFC 300 card, Harrison’s ability to make bantamweight numbers for the first time in her career have been called into serious question.

Raquel Pennington previews Kayla Harrison clash in the future

However, as far as Pennington is concerned, Harrison, a staple of American Top Team, should more so be worried about her ability to compete at that weight class, efficiently – claiming Holm could cause her serious threat if on veteran form.

“I think she (Kayla Harrison) could definitely make the weight,” Raquel Pennington told LowKick MMA in an exclusive interview. “It’s [bantamweight] obviously going to be a new place for her. I think my biggest question is, ‘Okay, you’ve made the weight, but how are you going to perform at that weight?’”

“And then, just that fight [with Holly Holm], in general,” Raquel Pennington explained. “I feel like if Holly brings the fighter out that came into the UFC, she’ll definitely expose Kayla again. Kayla fought Larissa Pacheco, and Larissa threw her hands, and during that fight, Kayla had a really hard time, she couldn’t get off with her gameplan like she’s used to.”

Entering the Octagon off the back of a victory, Harrison, a career lightweight who twice landed tournament gold success under the PFL banner, most recently handed UFC alum, Aspen Ladd a decision loss in their clash toward the end of last year.

Who wins in a future title meeting: Raquel Pennington or Kayla Harrison?

Kayla Harrison plots vicious win in UFC 300 debut: ‘They’ll have no choice but to give me a title shot’

Ahead of her Octagon debut next month in a potential title-eliminator against former bantamweight champion, Holly Holm, Kayla Harrison…

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?

Cris Cyborg set to train Holly Holm for fight with rival Kayla Harrison at UFC 300: ‘I think she’s a legend’

Bellator MMA featherweight champion, Cris Cyborg has confirmed she is set to train former undisputed bantamweight titleholder, Holly Holm…

Bellator MMA featherweight champion, Cris Cyborg has confirmed she is set to train former undisputed bantamweight titleholder, Holly Holm for her upcoming UFC 300 fight with former PFL champion, Kayla Harrison in April – rekindling her rivalry with the Ohio native.

Cyborg, a former undisputed UFC featherweight queen, has been sidelined since she featured at Bellator 300 back in November, successfully defending her featherweight crown in a one-sided first round knockout win over fellow Octagon veteran, Cat Zingano.

And struggling to book a fight with either the PFL or Bellator since the Peter Murray-led promotion bought out the latter, Cyborg has announced plans to make another boxing appearance in her time away from mixed martial arts.

Cris Cyborg to train Holly Holm for fight with Kayla Harrison

Furthermore, staking her claim for a potential UFC comeback in a rematch with Brazilian compatriot, Amanda Nunes in April, Cyborg revealed she is set to travel to Albuquerque to train Holm for her UFC 300 clash against Harrison later this quarter.

“I already have a date to go to Albuquerque – I’m very excited,” Cris Cyborg told James Lynch during a recent interview. “I talked to the team, talked to Holly (Holm) – we’ve been studying Kayla (Harrison) for a little while already. I have been training for her already.”

“I’m a super fan of Holly Holm,” Cris Cyborg continued. “I think she’s a legend. She’s a big example to female fighters. [I’ll] be a part of her camp, and I think she’s going to come with a great victory. It’s going to be good.”

Herself fighting Holm back in 2017, Cyborg headlined UFC 219 against the boxing Hall of Famer, landing a unanimous decision win to successfully defend her undisputed featherweight championship.

Remaining sceptical of Harrison’s ability to successfully make the bantamweight limit for her UFC 300 debut inside the Octagon, Holm claimed she would likely skirt a fight with the two-time Olympic gold medalist if she failed to successfully tip the scales.

What’s next for Cris Cyborg?