Kayla Harrison recently revealed that she faced a challenging health battle, as she was hospitalized for serious infections in the lead-up to her UFC 307 fight. Harrison secured a significant victory against Ketlen Vieira last weekend at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, as most had anticipated, the triumph was far from […]
Kayla Harrison recently revealed that she faced a challenging health battle, as she was hospitalized for serious infections in the lead-up to her UFC 307 fight.
Harrison secured a significant victory against Ketlen Vieira last weekend at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, as most had anticipated, the triumph was far from straightforward for the two-time Olympic gold medalist, as “Fenomeno” tested her resilience and caused a cut on her forehead during the intense second round.
It has now come to light that Harrison’s performance may have been compromised due to her hospitalization just a week before the fight…
Harrison Shares She Was Taking Antibiotics Ahead Of UFC 307
During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Harrison disclosed that she battled a serious infection that required her to take antibiotics leading up to her fight at UFC 307, which ultimately resulted in her hospitalization.
Harrison further shared that she gained valuable insights about herself and recognized aspects she can incorporate into her training for future fights.
Harrison has triumphed in both of her Octagon appearances and is actively campaigning for a title shot. In her promotional debut at UFC 300 this past April, she secured a unanimous decision victory in the second round against former champion Holly Holm.
Kayla Harrison faced some adversity thanks to Ketlen Vieira’s game but still managed to score a decision win at UFC 307, potentially setting herself up to face the winner of tonight’s Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Peña women’s bantamweight title fight. The fight’s opening round was fairly quiet, with Harrison looking to find an opening. The […]
Kayla Harrison faced some adversity thanks to Ketlen Vieira’s game but still managed to score a decision win at UFC 307, potentially setting herself up to face the winner of tonight’s Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Peña women’s bantamweight title fight.
The fight’s opening round was fairly quiet, with Harrison looking to find an opening. The two-time PFL champion managed to get Vieira pinned against the fence, but the Brazilian successfully defended against the takedown and was able to work herself off. The final minute, however, saw Harrison land a big takedown and get in top position, searching for a submission and landing a vicious elbow before the horn.
Harrison maintained her control of the fight’s pacing through the second round, but Vieira landed a damaging elbow late in the round that left a hematoma on the two-time Olympic gold medalist.
By the halfway mark of the third round, Harrison was able to bloody up Vieira and scored another takedown, doing work in the #2-ranked contender’s guard.
Kayla Harrison Faces Challenges But Still Gets Judges’ Nod Over Ketlen Vieira At UFC 307
Harrison signed with the UFC in January 2024 after starting her MMA career with the PFL, becoming a two-time PFL women’s lightweight champion in the process. The 34-year-old made her Octagon debut at UFC 300, finishing Holly Holm.
Vieira, meanwhile, had won three of her last four entering Saturday’s event in Salt Lake City, which included wins over former champions Holm and Miesha Tate. She had most recently fought in July 2023, defeating Pannie Kianzad by decision in England.
At the UFC 307 press conference, the top-ranked athletes Kayla Harrison and Julianna Pena had a heated exchange, with…
At the UFC 307 press conference, the top-ranked athletes Kayla Harrison and Julianna Pena had a heated exchange, with Harrison making it clear she plans to dominate the bantamweight division. Although Harrison is set to face Ketlen Vieira, of Brazil, and Pena will fight Raquel Pennington for the title, their back-and-forth implied at a likely rivalry in the future.
Kayla Harrison
Kayla Harrison a two-time Olympic judo medalist with consecutive PFL lightweight titles to her name, stated that she’s on an unstoppable path to the UFC bantamweight title, no matter who currently holds it. She downplayed Pena’s UFC experience by highlighting her own 17-1 record compared to Pena’s 10-5. Pena shot back, criticizing the quality of Harrison’s past opponents.
Harrison responded:
“I have more finishes than Julianna has wins. I don’t know what she’s talking about. She better slow down … It doesn’t matter. It’s only a matter of time. I’m the uncrowned queen. First Saturday night, I smash Ketlen and then I come for my title. Enjoy it while you can ladies … [I] just got here? I won two Olympic gold medals. You started your career in 2009 and you’re 10-5. I started in 2018 and I’m 17-1.”
Julianna Pena
The Venezuelan Vixen’ Julianna Pena is best known for her stunning submission win over Amanda Nunes in December 2021, which earned her the bantamweight title, which she would later lose to the ‘Lioness.’ She is now set to fight Raquel Pennington at UFC 307 for the bantamweight title, marking her return to the octagon after more than two years.
Pena said:
“I know violence. Kayla Harrison just got here to the scene… As far as I’m concerned, the last time she faced a Brazilian, she came running into the UFC … It’s easy to be 17-1 when you’re fighting freaking tomato cans.”
Ketlen Vieira
Vieira who is actually fighting Harrison at UFC 307, also voiced frustration about Harrison’s quick rise in the UFC, feeling it was an unfair “line skip.” Harrison, however, welcomed all challengers, showing confidence and a readiness to face anyone in the division.
Throughout her UFC career, Vieira, who holds a blackbelt in both Jiu Jitsu and Judo, has faced several high-profile opponents, including a significant victory over former champion Miesha Tate in November 2021. However, she also faced setbacks, including losses to Irene Aldana and Raquel Pennington.
UFC 307
The Brazilian athlete said:
“Listen, it’s going to be really hard looking at your ugly face for me. It’s going to be OK when you look in the mirror …
“All of a sudden you come out here and you skip the line. Actually I had a loss then and I had a loss to Raquel Pennington, somebody active, the current champion, somebody I admire a lot and someone I mirror myself and my game and the way I behave myself [after]. Because I think coming here and actually being a champion is more than just coming here and saying a lot of bologna.”
Kayla Harrison concluded with:
“This is the difference between me and all of these girls. I come here and they complain ‘she skipped the line, she’s on steroids, it’s not fair, she shouldn’t do this, she shouldn’t do that.’ If this was my division, and I was the champion, I would say come the f*ck over and I’ll show you who’s champion.” [HT MMAFighting]
UFC 307 takes place tomorrow night, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results! After staging an event inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere last month, the mixed martial arts leader is back in Utah for its latest numbered card, which goes down inside Salt Lake City’s Delta Center. Two […]
Two titles will be on the line at the top of the card, with Alex Pereira defending his light heavyweight belt against Khalil Rountree and Raquel Pennington staking the women’s bantamweight gold opposite Julianna Peña.
Also on the main card will be returns for UFC legend José Aldo, two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison, and fan favorite Kevin Holland.
UFC 307: Pereira vs. Rountree Weigh-In Results
UFC 307 takes place Saturday, October 5 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT.
See above for a replay of the UFC 307 Weigh-In Show, and check out the full results below!
Main Card:
Light Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira (205lbs) vs. Khalil Rountree (205lbs)
Women’s Bantamweight Championship: Raquel Pennington (135lbs) vs. Julianna Peña (134.5lbs)
Bantamweight: José Aldo (136lbs) vs. Mario Bautista (136lbs)
Middleweight: Roman Dolidze (185.5lbs) vs. Kevin Holland (185.5lbs)
Women’s Bantamweight: Ketlen Vieira (136lbs) vs. Kayla Harrison (136lbs)
Preliminary Card:
Welterweight: Stephen Thompson (171lbs) vs. Joaquin Buckley (170.5lbs)
Women’s Strawweight: Marina Rodriguez (115.5lbs) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (116lbs)
Lightweight: Austin Hubbard (156lbs) vs. Alexander Hernandez (156lbs)
Middleweight: César Almeida (185.5lbs) vs. Ihor Potieria (185.5lbs)
Early Preliminary Card:
Light Heavyweight: Ryan Spann (205.5lbs) vs. Ovince Saint Preux (205.5lbs)
Women’s Strawweight: Carla Esparza (115.5lbs) vs. Tecia Pennington (115lbs)
Welterweight: Court McGee (170lbs) vs. Tim Means (171lbs)
UFC 307 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for Saturday’s lineup. The upcoming pay-per-view takes place Saturday, October 5, at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at […]
Topping the lineup will be reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira, who is tasked with getting the better of surprise challenger Khalil Rountree if he’s to record a third successful title defense in 2024.
Also set to make the walk on Saturday night will be the likes of UFC legend José Aldo, two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison, and the always entertaining Kevin Holland.
Ahead of the event, you can get some help from the group of experts at MMA News by checking out their predictions for the UFC 307 main card here.
UFC 307: Pereira vs. Rountree Betting Odds
Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 307 (as of 10/4), courtesy of DraftKings.
Main Card:
Alex Pereira (-455) vs. Khalil Rountree (+350)
Raquel Pennington (-166) vs. Julianna Peña (+140)
José Aldo (+124) vs. Mario Bautista (-148)
Roman Dolidze (+130) vs. Kevin Holland (-155)
Ketlen Vieira (+700) vs. Kayla Harrison (-1100)
Preliminary Card:
Stephen Thompson (+180) vs. Joaquin Buckley (-218)
Marina Rodriguez (+164) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (-198)
Austin Hubbard (+130) vs. Alexander Hernandez (-155)
On Saturday, Harrison returns to the Octagon for her second promotional appearance after scoring a first-round submission against Holly Holm at UFC 300 in April. This time around, the two-time Olympic gold medalist in Judo will be tasked with taking out No. 2 ranked bantamweight contender Ketlen Vieira in a fight that has title eliminator written all over it.
Previewing their high-stakes scrap at UFC 307, Cejudo suggested that Vieira’s own experience as a judoka could present some problems for Harrison.
“It’s hard to bet against a girl like Kayla Harrison,” Cejudo said on his Pound 4 Pound podcast with Kamaru Usman. “But I think out of all the girls right now at 135 pounds that could match her strength, because you know Vieira’s a judo blackbelt, as well, and in my opinion, she has better hands than Harrison. So it’s going to come down to the wrestling.
“And I do feel like Kayla Harrison is going to bring the wrestling in, and that’s just what’s going to change it. But if Vieira can keep it on her feet, I think Kayla could be in trouble, dude. Her striking is no joke, man. She trains out there with Jose Aldo. If Kayla cannot take her down, it’s going to lean more towards Vieira’s side.”
Kayla Harrison threatens to ‘f*** Up’ Henry Cejudo
Responding to Cejudo’s comments, Harrison ripped ‘Triple C’ to shreds and accused him of being a “jealous little man” during an interview with Submission Radio.
“I don’t know why the hell they’re talking about a judo black belt making a difference like there are levels,” Harrison said. “That would be like me telling Henry, ‘Oh this kid wrestling in varsity in high school so you’re gonna struggle to take him down’. Benign. Asinine. That’s all right, I look forward to showing once again why Henry is a jealous little man” (h/t MMA News).
In another hilarious moment caught on camera, Harrison told her manager Ali Abdelaziz — who also represents Cejudo — that she’s going to “f*ck [Cejudo] up” and reiterated that the former two-division titleholder is just jealous because she has more Olympic medals than him.
Cejudo topped the podium at the 2008 Olympic Games, winning gold in the 55kg freestyle wrestling division. Harrison won her medals in 2012 and 2016.