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Tag: Kayla Harrison

  • Kayla Harrison: It Would Only Take Me One Arm To Beat Julianna Peña

    Kayla Harrison doesn’t think Julianna Peña would fare well against her.

    At UFC 269, Peña submitted Amanda Nunes to become the new bantamweight champion, and recently, she took a shot at Nunes’ training partner Harrison. She claimed the PFL champion is a B-League fighter, which Harrison did not take kindly.

    Although Harrison has not signed yet, she was asked about a potential fight against Peña after her comments. To no surprise, the two-time Olympic gold medalist believes she would beat Peña with ease.

    “I think that Julianna, you know, congrats to her for her victory, I know she must be on cloud nine right now, and I would just caution her to be careful. You don’t say stuff like that to people like me unless you mean it,” Harrison said to TMZ Sports. “This isn’t like a ‘Conor McGregor, let’s just talk a little sh*t.’ Don’t bite off more than you can chew. And I have a lot of respect for her as well. She went out there and she executed a great game plan, and she did what she had to do. But I’m not the lesser of anything or anyone or anybody. When I come to fight, you’re gonna know you’re in a fight. Be careful what you say.

    Kayla Harrison
    Photo by Dave Mandel/Invicta FC

    “I think it’s just dumb, too. She fights at 135, I fight at, right now, 155, so unless you’re willing to back it up, then don’t say stuff like that, you know, just don’t open that can of worms,” Harrison continued. “Don’t go there… Honestly, I’d probably have to chop off my arm to make 135. ’45, I can make, but I’d have to chop off an arm to make 135, and I think that it only would take me one arm to beat her.”

    Even though Kayla Harrison and Julianna Peña are taking shots at one another, it’s unlikely they will ever fight each other. Harrison is not in the UFC yet, and she competes at featherweight and lightweight while Peña is a bantamweight and has even expressed interest in going to 125lbs.

    What do you make of Kayla Harrison claiming she could beat Julianna Peña with one arm?

  • Kayla Harrison: Nunes “Starches” Peña 9 Times Out Of 10

    Despite giving props to Julianna Peña for her victory over Amanda Nunes, two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison is confident the newly-crowned UFC bantamweight queen wouldn’t be able to repeat it.

    Nunes, Harrison’s American Top Team teammate, saw her 12-fight win streak and reign over the 135-pound weight class collapse in the co-main event of UFC 269 last weekend. Having defeated the likes of Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, and Holly Holm, and ascended the mountaintop of two divisions, it was the unlikely challenge of Peña that proved to be the David to her Goliath.

    But if you ask “The Venezuelan Vixen,” there was nothing surprising about the result on December 11. She predicted it throughout fight week. Her confidence was struck down by most, including Nunes, who branded her “delusional.”

    On fight night, Peña brought the heat to the “Lioness” on the feet, piecing her up with her jab, before forcing the action to the mat and securing her place on the throne with a submission triumph.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXZNFgmMNXs/

    Harrison, who considers Nunes to be a friend, as well as training partner, was in attendance for the demise of the 33-year-old’s dominance at bantamweight. In an interview with TMZ Sports, the unbeaten lightweight star expressed her sadness at seeing Nunes defeated.

    “I was heartbroken, obviously, for my teammate and my friend. I have a lot of respect for Amanda. I help her train, I’ve trained with her, she’s helped me, you know, we’re teammates, I would consider her a friend, so first and foremost, I was heartbroken for her.”

    Nevertheless, Harrison maintained that the loss wasn’t something we’d see often. The two-time Olympic gold medalist suggested Nunes would have no trouble dispatching Peña 90% of the time.

    “I still think that if they fought 10 times, nine times out of 10 Amanda starches her. But sometimes it’s just not your night, no matter what yo do, no matter how hard you prepare, no matter how good you feel or how confident you are, sometimes things just don’t go your way. That’s the craziness of this sport.”

    Harrison Promises Peña A “2-For-1 ATT Special If She Keeps Talking”

    Harrison’s theory could well be put to the test in 2022. After Dana White confirmed the former champ has the option for a rematch on the table if she wants it, both Nunes and the newly-crowned titleholder suggested it makes sense. However, Peña could be facing more than just a “Lioness” if she continues down her current path.

    Following her title crowning, Peña discussed the possibility of facing Harrison. Dismissing the threat of the Ohio native, “The Venezuelan Vixen” branded the PFL champ, who she said has only fought in the “B-leagues” the “lesser of the training partners” at ATT.

    In response, Harrison said that if she’s not careful, Peña could be the recipient of a special offer out of the famed Florida-based gym.

    “I think that she (Nunes) takes a little time off, she relaxes, she spends time with her family, with her daughter, with her wife, and then we get right back at it. I talked to her that night, I was like, ‘This puta’s about to get a 2-for-1 ATT special if she keeps talking.’”

    Given their current weight discrepancy, which has the pair fighting 20 pounds apart, a Harrison vs. Peña matchup seems unlikely unless the UFC champ chooses to move up to featherweight. With that in mind, the more likely bout is seemingly a championship clash between the two ATT teammates.

    With Nunes still in possession of the 145-pound gold, and Harrison’s free agency status leaving the door open for a move to the UFC, we could see the two friends collide down the line.

    Do you agree with Kayla Harrison? Would Amanda Nunes beat Julianna Peña nine times out of 10?

  • Julianna Peña Dismisses ‘B-League’ Kayla Harrison, Harrison Responds

    New UFC women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Peña has taken a shot at Kayla Harrison.

    In the co-main event of UFC 269, Amanda Nunes was set to defend her bantamweight title against Peña in a fight most expected Nunes to win with ease. Should the champ-champ have won, it’s likely she would’ve fought Harrison at featherweight in a highly-anticipated bout but Peña ruined those plans.

    Peña pulled off a surprising upset by scoring a second-round submission win. After the win, the new champion took a shot at Harrison, explaining why the two-time PFL champion is not on her radar.

    “I think she’s the lesser of the training partners for her and Amanda Nunes,” Peña told MMA Junkie. “If that’s the case and I just took out Amanda, I don’t know what kind of position that would put her in. But she’s been fighting the B-leagues. I’ve been fighting in the UFC, I’ve been fighting at the top of the division. I’m fighting in the biggest league of this sport so I’m not paying too much attention to what she’s doing down there.”

    After Peña’s comments, Harrison then took to Twitter to respond.

    “Lawwwwwd. Don’t be doin this now Juliana!,” Harrison wrote on Twitter.

    Although Julianna Peña took a shot at Kayla Harrison, it is a moot point, as a fight between them will likely never happen. Even if Harrison signs with the UFC, she will compete at featherweight, while Peña is the bantamweight champ and is comfortable at 135lbs.

    However, some may consider Peña’s shot at Harrison to be a wise move, as it only adds to her name and popularity. Yet, in order for the new champ to remain the champ, she will need to beat Nunes again sometime next year. Harrison, meanwhile, remains a free agent.

    What do you make of Julianna Peña taking a shot at Kayla Harrison?

  • Dana White Invites Kayla Harrison To Prove She’s The Best Against Nunes

    The UFC has joined the Kayla Harrison sweepstakes.

    The UFC featherweight division has been relatively dormant since its inception in 2017. Four years in, there still are not any rankings for the division, and the roster continues to be flimsy at best, with no signs of that changing anytime soon.

    For instance, one of the very few featherweights under contract, Felicia Spencer, made the decision to retire last week. That same week, Aspen Ladd, who made her featherweight debut recently after weight struggles at bantamweight, has announced that she intends to go back down to 135.

    Ladd also is on record in telling MMA News that the UFC’s featherweight division needs Kayla Harrison if it is going to survive. Now that Harrison is a free agent, it is entirely possible that she could come in and help save the division.

    Dana White Reveals The UFC Is In Talks With Kayla Harrison

    Kayla Harrison, Dana White
    Kayla Harrison, Dana White

    However, according to Dana White, the fate of the division isn’t in the hands of the two-time PFL lightweight champion but is dependent on the UFC’s reigning featherweight champ, Amanda Nunes.

    “That division is still there for the champ,” White said Wednesday in an interview with TSN. “The day (Nunes) says she doesn’t want to defend that belt anymore, we probably let it go. It’s there for her. And I’m interested in the whole Kayla Harrison thing. She thinks she’s the best in the world. There’s only one way to find out: come over here and fight the GOAT.”

    It wasn’t long ago that Dana White advised Kayla Harrison to stick with the PFL and continue taking what he deemed to be easy money. Such a nonchalant indifference to one of the biggest free agents in recent history came across as potential reverse psychology.

    This about-face indicates that may have been precisely what it was, or perhaps other UFC executives later persuaded White to make a play for the Olympic gold medalist. Whatever the reason, White confirmed to TSN that the UFC is, in fact, in active talks with Kayla Harrison, and those talks will culminate with her joining the UFC if she really wants to prove she’s the best.

    As for the matter of Harrison and Nunes being teammates at American Top Team? A total nonfactor for a competitor like Amanda Nunes, says White.

    “Well, first of all, Amanda Nunes is one of the best athletes I’ve ever worked with, and she doesn’t play all that goofy, ‘We’re friends’ shit,” White assured.

    Bellator has also confirmed interest in Kayla Harrison, with company president Scott Coker saying in last week’s Bellator 272 post-fight press conference that the promotion will meet with her this week. PFL also hopes to retain her services for the fourth year.

    MMA News will be right on top of Kayla Harrison’s free agency and fill you in on all the latest updates.

    Do you think Kayla Harrison should follow Dana White’s revised advice and fight Amanda Nunes in the UFC to “prove she’s the best?”

  • Kayla Harrison Tabs Cris Cyborg, Not Amanda Nunes, As FW GOAT

    Two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison thinks Cris “Cyborg” Justino is the greatest women’s featherweight, and not her teammate Amanda Nunes.

    Harrison has been linked to potential future matchups against both Justino and Nunes, most recently appearing at a Bellator event to watch Justino knock out Sinead Kavanagh. She’s teammates with Nunes down at the famous American Top Team gym in south Florida.

    Harrison is a free agent and was recently asked to give her thoughts on Bellator and claimed that Justino is the greatest women’s featherweight of all time.

    “I’ve heard nothing but good things (about Bellator).” Harrison said in a recent interview on the ‘Weighing In‘ podcast. “I don’t think I’ve heard a fighter go to Bellator from another promotion and complain. That’s across the board from Austin (Vanderford) to Johnny (Eblen), to Kyoji (Horiguchi). Everybody seems happy there.”

    “They also happen to have one of the greatest female featherweights,” Harrison continued. “I think [Justino’s] the greatest featherweight of all time. One of the greatest fighters of all time.”

    Kayla Harrison Is Currently A Free Agent

    It’s unclear what could be next for Harrison in her MMA career. After winning the PFL lightweight championship over Taylor Guardado earlier this year, she’s on the free-agent market for the first time. Harrison has expressed interest in signing with the UFC, Bellator, and even re-signing with the PFL.

    Fans have long clamored for a potential matchup between Nunes and Harrison. UFC featherweight contender Felicia Spencer also went out of her way to say that Harrison is “definitely a threat” in the featherweight division if she chooses to sign with the promotion.

    Nunes is slated to face Julianna Peña at UFC 269 next weekend and could have virtually cleaned out both the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. She could potentially be on a collision course with her teammate Harrison if the UFC comes to terms with the reigning PFL champ.

    Do you agree with Kayla Harrison?

  • Amanda Nunes/Kayla Harrison Potential Fight Has Major Barrier

    MMA fans have discussed a rhetorical matchup between American Top Team teammates Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison for months.

    Nunes and Harrison have skyrocketed to the top of women’s MMA, especially over the past year. Harrison is undefeated in her young MMA career as the multiple-time PFL lightweight champion while Nunes currently holds UFC belts at featherweight and bantamweight.

    Nunes has cleared out most of the top contenders in both of her divisions while Harrison has looked virtually unstoppable in many eyes in the PFL. Fans have drooled and debated a potential future matchup between Nunes and Harrison in the UFC and how it could play out.

    Amanda Nunes, Kayla Harrison

    However, a major obstacle is in the way of making that happen. ATT gym owner Dan Lambert isn’t keen on a matchup between Nunes and Harrison and is extremely uncomfortable with the discussion.

    During a recent interview on The MMA Hour, Lambert explained why a Nunes vs. Harrison fight isn’t on his ‘to-do list’.

    “I’d do everything I could to avoid it,” Lambert said. “I don’t like when our people fight. Usually, when you go into a fight you’ve got at least a 50-50 of leaving happy or sad. Put two of our people against each other, especially in such a high-stakes fight, you’ve got a 100 percent chance of leaving feeling pretty bad for somebody.”

    “But hey, sometimes sh*t happens,” Lambert continued. “If it were to happen, we’d separate the training, pick out training partners and coaches that would help each and may the best man or woman win.”

    Harrison is officially a free agent after fulfilling her PFL contract. She defeated Taylor Guardado for the PFL lightweight championship last week and is currently pondering her options for the next chapter of her career.

    Nunes is scheduled to face former The Ultimate Fighter winner Julianna Peña at UFC 269. She has won 12 fights in a row and has demolished top featherweight and bantamweight title contenders during her reigns.

    Nunes and Harrison haven’t exactly shied away from a potential matchup in the future between the two teammates. Just last year, Harrison alluded to chasing Nunes as the greatest female MMA fighter in the sport.

    Harrison and Nunes remain two of the biggest names in MMA, regardless of gender. While a matchup between the two ATT stars isn’t completely off the table, it faces some obstacles in the form of Lambert and the ATT leadership.

    Do you think we’ll ever see an Amanda Nunes vs. Kayla Harrison super fight?