Kayla Harrison was not the main attraction at UFC 307, but she certainly stole the spotlight with some fiery exchanges at the pre-fight press conference on Thursday.
It was no surprise that the two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo found herself in a war of words with Julianna Pena, considering their ongoing back-and-forth in interviews over the past year. While Harrison is set to face Ketlen Vieira on Saturday, and Pena is gearing up to fight Raquel Pennington, the topic of a potential matchup between Harrison and Pena continues to surface.
Despite the chatter, Harrison remained focused on her goal, stating that it doesn’t matter who holds the belt after UFC 307 because she’s coming for it.
“Fill in the blank,” Harrison remarked about her potential opponents. “It doesn’t matter. It’s just a matter of time. I am the uncrowned queen. After I defeat Ketlen on Saturday, I will come for the title. Enjoy your reign while it lasts, ladies.”
However, Harrison did not shy away from expressing her willingness to deliver a blow to Pena, which elicited a response from the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion.
Pena retorted, “I know violence. Kayla just arrived on the scene. The last time she faced a Brazilian, she came running to the UFC.”
While Pena attempted to bring up Harrison’s lone career loss to Larissa Pacheco in the PFL, the 34-year-old bantamweight was quick to point out her own impressive record in a shorter span of time.
Harrison asserted, “I have more finishes than Julianna has wins. I don’t know what she’s talking about. She better slow down.
“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.”
Pena seemed unfazed by Harrison’s statistics.
“It’s easy to be 17-1 when you’re fighting tomato cans,” Pena quipped.
The tension escalated during Harrison’s exchange with Vieira, who is considered a significant underdog in their upcoming bout.
Vieira, typically reserved and assisted by a translator, took personal jabs at Harrison during the press conference.
“It’s going to be tough for me to look at your ugly face,” Vieira remarked. “When you look in the mirror, it will be okay.”
Harrison responded to Vieira’s comments by asserting that her family finds her beautiful and calling her opponent an expletive.
Vieira’s frustration stemmed from the attention Harrison received upon joining the UFC as a high-profile free agent. Harrison’s impressive debut against Holly Holm at UFC 300 further fueled the spotlight on her.
Now positioned in a No. 1 contenders bout, Harrison awaits the opportunity to face either Pennington or Pena for the title.
Vieira voiced her discontent with Harrison leapfrogging other contenders who have been diligently climbing the ranks in the women’s bantamweight division for years.
“I respect your judo background, but skipping the line feels unjust to me,” Vieira expressed. “We have worked tirelessly for this. I have defeated former champions and felt I deserved a title shot. Your sudden arrival and preferential treatment seem unfair.”
Harrison remained undeterred by the criticism, stating her readiness to face any challenge and inviting her competitors to prove themselves in the octagon.
“Unlike the others, I welcome the competition,” Harrison declared. “Instead of complaining and making excuses, I would invite challengers to step up and face me.”
The pre-fight banter showcased the tension and anticipation surrounding Harrison’s upcoming bout at UFC 307, setting the stage for an electrifying showdown.