Tag: Kayla Harrison

UFC 300 ‘Embedded,’ No. 1: Star-studded and historic fight week underway in Las Vegas

The “Embedded” video series is here to document one of the most highly anticipated fight weeks in UFC history.

One of the most highly anticipated fight weeks in UFC history is here with UFC 300, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 300 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

In the headliner, light heavyweight champion [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) puts that belt on the line for the first time against former champ [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC), who vacated the title six months after he won it due to injury.

In the co-feature, women’s strawweight champion [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] (24-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC). The bout is the first all-China title fight in UFC history.

The “BMF” belt is on the line between current titleholder [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] (25-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) and former longtime featherweight champ [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] (25-7 MMA, 21-7 UFC), who is moving up to lightweight for the bout.

Plus, UFC 300 features the promotional debut of two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL champ [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) against former women’s bantamweight champ [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) and five other former UFC champions on arguably the most stacked card in company history.

The first episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

Alex Pereira hangs with Chuck Liddell and Glover Teixeira. Cody Garbrandt, Weili Zhang, Aljamain Sterling and Jamahal Hill bring big belt energy to the UFC PI. Max Holloway arrives in Vegas. Bo Nickal does game night; Justin Gaethje gets in leg day.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Spinning Back Clique REPLAY: Everything UFC 300 – Pereira vs. Hill, BMF title fight, Harrison’s debut, more

On this week’s episode of “Spinning Back Clique,” the panel discusses everything UFC 300.

Check out this week’s special edition of “Spinning Back Clique,” where we’ll be breaking down everything UFC 300.

This week’s panel will be composed of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Danny Segura, and host “Gorgeous” George Garcia – along with appearances from Matt Wells, Mike Bohn, Farah Hannoun, Dan Tom, and Nolan King.

For this Monday’s special episode, the panel discussed:

  • The pair of undisputed UFC championship fights headlining UFC 300. In the main event, [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] makes his first light heavyweight title defense against former champion  [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag], who returns from injury. In the co-main event, [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] takes on fellow Chinese fighter [autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag] in a women’s strawweight bout.
  • The first-ever Baddest Motherf*cker title defense, as BMF champion [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] welcomes back [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] to the lightweight division. Other key lightweight bouts go down, including [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag], [autotag]Jalin Turner[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag], [autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag].
  • Highly-touted undefeated middleweight prospect [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag]’s return to action. He takes on Cody Brundage in the opening bout of the pay-per-view main card. This will be Nickal’s third fight under the UFC banner.
  • Two-time PFL champion and two-time Judo Olympic gold medalist [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] makes her highly awaited UFC debut. She takes on former champion [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] at bantamweight – a division Harrison will be debuting in. Harrison has previously fought at 155 and 145 pounds.
  • Former UFC bantamweight champion [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag] has moved up to featherweight. Veteran contender [autotag]Calvin Kattar[/autotag] welcomes him to the division.
  • To cap off the show, the panel will do a quick promo breakdown to hype up the four remaining bouts of the UFC 300 card. This includes [autotag]Jiri Prochazka[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Aleksandar Rakic[/autotag], [autotag]Sodiq Yusuff[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag], [autotag]Jessica Andrade[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Marina Rodriguez[/autotag], and [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Cody Garbrandt[/autotag].

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Kayla Harrison: If I was Raquel Pennington, ‘I’d be scared sh*tless’ about my UFC signing

Kayla Harrison says Raquel Pennington should fear her UFC arrival.

[autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] says [autotag]Raquel Pennington[/autotag] should fear her UFC arrival.

UFC bantamweight champion Pennington (16-8 MMA, 13-5 UFC) expects to make her first title defense against Julianna Peña, and would take umbrage with Harrison being fast tracked to a title shot.

Harrison (16-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes her octagon debut in a bantamweight bout against former champ Holly Holm (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) on April 13 at UFC 300 in Las Vegas.

“For me, I think it’s Julianna,” Pennington told Low Kick MMA on who’s next. “Just from having to grind from the bottom up, never being handed anything, there’s a lot of women in this division who have been busting their ass for years upon years, and they’re wanting opportunities.

“I do not find it fair. I get the business aspect of it. But I do not find it fair when an athlete comes in and just because they have a big name, they get to skip the line. I’m not opposed to fighting anybody, like scared of anybody. I love the challenges out there.”

Harrison responded to Pennington, and the two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL champion plans on making herself undeniable with a statement-making performance over Holm.

“I think that my record speaks for itself,” Harrison told MMA Junkie. “So, that’s kind of hard to argue with. I think that if I go out and make a statement, that’s gonna be hard to argue with. I don’t know Raquel’s record, but I’m assuming that there were losses mixed in, like she probably got close then lost.

“That’s her journey. My journey is my journey, and I plan on doing everything in my power to make it so that they want to give me the title shot. I would be saying that if I was Raquel, too. I’d be scared sh*tless.”

[lawrence-related id=2730097,2728272,2726362,2722578]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Kayla Harrison: Cris Cyborg ‘just attention seeking’ by helping Holly Holm prep for me at UFC 300

Kayla Harrison says she doesn’t care if Cris Cyborg is lending Holly Holm a helping hand for UFC 300.

[autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] says she doesn’t care if [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] is lending [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] a helping hand for UFC 300.

Harrison (16-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes her octagon debut against former bantamweight champion Holm (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) at UFC 300 on April 13 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Bellator women’s featherweight champion Cyborg traveled to Albuquerque, N.M., to help Holm, but Harrison is a little confused by that move.

“I really just don’t think much of it,” Harrison told MMA Junkie. “It doesn’t really make a lot of sense. Cyborg is an orthodox striker and I’m a southpaw grappler, so I guess, like, cool? But kudos to them. When I was in judo, I trained with all the girls I competed with.”

Harrison and Cyborg were on a collision course, but the fight never materialized after PFL acquired Bellator, and Harrison signed with the UFC. Harrison questions Cyborg’s intentions.

“I think it’s great – good for them. I think Cyborg is just attention seeking, but whatever,” Harrison said. “Who cares?”

As for Holm, the two-time Olympic gold medalist judoka and two-time PFL lightweight champion respects her opponent’s accolades and longevity in the sport.

“She’s just another fighter,” Harrison said. “I probably have the most respect for her. She seems like such a champion in life. I just have a lot of respect for her as a human being and as a fighter – what she’s accomplished, how she’s stayed relevant and adjusted and grown as a fighter.

“I have a lot of respect for that. It’s not an easy thing to do in this sport because it is constantly evolving. … It’s not personal. It’s just business. This is my job, and I’m coming to take her head off.”

[lawrence-related id=2730097,2729720,2728272,2722578]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

How Kayla Harrison had to overcome ‘big mental hurdle’ of UFC telling her it’s bantamweight or bust

If Kayla Harrison wanted to be a UFC fighter, bantamweight was the only option.

If [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] wanted to be a UFC fighter, bantamweight was the only option.

Harrison (16-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes her octagon debut against former champion Holly Holm (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) at UFC 300 on April 13. It will be the first time she’ll compete at 135 pounds.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist judoka and two-time PFL lightweight champion fought predominantly at 155 pounds, and has been able to make the cut down to featherweight, but bantamweight will be uncharted waters 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.

“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 has no fear of any potential physical or athletic limitations as she depletes herself down to bantamweight.

“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.”

[lawrence-related id=2729720,2728272,2722578,2712420]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Kayla Harrison ahead of UFC 300: ‘I will be undisputed, the greatest combat athlete of all time’

Move over Henry Cejudo, Kayla Harrison is coming for your greatest combat sports athlete title.

Move over Henry Cejudo. [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] is coming for your claim as greatest combat sports athlete.

Harrison (16-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), a two-time Olympic gold medalist judoka and two-time PFL lightweight champion and $1 million winner, is looking to add more history when she makes her octagon debut at UFC 300.

Harrison meets former champ Holly Holm (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) in a bantamweight bout April 13 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Former UFC dual-champion Cejudo prides himself on his claim he’s the greatest combat sports athlete in history, but Harrison plans on surpassing him.

“This is an argument that I’ve had with Henry like a bazillion times about how he’s the greatest combat athlete all time,” Harrison told the UFC. “I said, ‘Henry, honey, I’m coming for you. You have one Olympic (medal) – just one. What are you going to do with one?’

“(I’ll) come over here real quick to the UFC, win a belt, maybe win another belt real quick, defend it, and be two-time UFC champion, and then I am a world champion, and a Pan Am champion, and a Pan Am Games champion. Anyways, I will be undisputed, the greatest combat athlete of all time.”

UFC 300 marks the most talent-filled card in the promotion’s history, featuring 12 current and former champions. Harrison is honored to debut on such a historic card.

“I think it’s going to be real different from what I’m used to – the vibe, the excitement,” Harrison said. “I enjoy that. I love the pressure. I shine brightest under the bright, bright lights, and I can’t wait.”

[lawrence-related id=2726362,2725800,2722578,2713853]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Julianna Peña definitely interested in UFC fight with ‘big name’ Kayla Harrison down the line

Julianna Peña is laser focused on Raquel Pennington, but has Kayla Harrison in her sights.

[autotag]Julianna Peña[/autotag] is laser focused on [autotag]Raquel Pennington[/autotag], but has [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] in her sights.

Peña expects to be bantamweight champion Pennington’s first title defense, but a fight is yet to be booked. The other standout name that could be in the running is Harrison, who makes her octagon debut against Holly Holm April 13 at UFC 300.

But Peña (11-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) questions if Harrison (16-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will in peak form, as she attempts to make 135 pounds for the first time in her career.

“Kayla Harrison is fighting a battle right now that she’s got to be able to contend with, and that’s making 135 pounds,” Peña told MMA on Sirius XM. “We know that there’s nobody in the 145-pound division. You can’t name 10 145ers. So first off, let’s just see if she can make it. Second off, let’s see how she performs – because her fights (have been) at 155. She’s already draining and cutting a ton of weight.

“When you cut that much and get down to 135, you’re a shell of yourself at what you were at 145 or even 155. Let’s see how she performs at 135, and let’s see her make that, and then we could talk. But as far as I’m concerned, she was getting a bunch of ‘gimme’ fights at PFL.”

Although Peña doesn’t think former champion Holm (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) is the same fighter now that she’s 42, if Harrison can beat her, she will have Peña’s attention.

“Holly Holm will be a very big test for her, and if she can overcome Holly Holm, then we’ll see,” Peña said. “But absolutely: Kayla’s a big name. She talks a lot of crap, she’s a worthy adversary and that’s definitely a fight I want later on down the line. You bet you.”

[lawrence-related id=2725800,2722578,2713853,2712420]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

UFC champ Raquel Pennington would take umbrage with Kayla Harrison receiving title shot after one win

As far as Raquel Pennington is concerned, a title shot for Kayla Harrison if she’s victorious at UFC 300 would be unfair.

UFC bantamweight champion [autotag]Raquel Pennington[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] should have to work her way up to the top.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist and PFL champion Harrison (16-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) makes her octagon debut in a bantamweight bout against former champ Holly Holm (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) on April 13 at UFC 300 in Las Vegas. Considering Harrison’s name and accolades, Pennington (16-8 MMA, 13-5 UFC) won’t be surprised if she was declared No. 1 contender with a win over Holm.

Pennington wouldn’t agree but embraces any challenge.

“In my mind, it’s Julianna Peña,” Pennington told LowKick MMA of her first title defense. “That’s what me and my team are preparing for, and it makes sense. It’s tough because the UFC does business how they want to do business. Obviously, you have Kayla Harrison, who just signed to the UFC. They do have a habit of when someone has a big name, they like to fast-track them. So I wouldn’t be surprised after UFC 300 next month if Kayla wins, if a phone call is a lot different after that fight.

“But we’ll see. For me, I think it’s Julianna. Just from having to grind from the bottom up, never being handed anything, there’s a lot of women in this division who have been busting their ass for years upon years, and they’re wanting opportunities. I do not find it fair. I get the business aspect of it. But I do not find it fair when an athlete comes in and just because they have a big name, they get to skip the line. I’m not opposed to fighting anybody, like scared of anybody. I love the challenges out there.”

Pennington’s journey started on Season 18 of “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2013. She worked her way to a title fight against then-champion Amanda Nunes in May 2018 but was stopped by fifth-round TKO. “Rocky” would then go 6-2 before earning a second shot – a vacant title fight vs. Mayra Bueno Silva at UFC 297. She won the fight by unanimous decision to become bantamweight champion.

[lawrence-related id=2722578,2713853,2712420,2712224]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

UFC 300’s Kayla Harrison embracing sacrifices of making 135 pounds ‘come hell or high water’ in debut

Kayla Harrison has been “trusting the process” of cutting to bantamweight for her promotional debut against Holly Holm at UFC 300.

There are plenty of questions surrounding [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag]’s promotional debut at UFC 300, but perhaps the most important will be answered before she steps into the octagon.

Harrison (16-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will face former bantamweight champion Holly Holm (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) in her debut on April 13, which will be the first time in her career to compete at 135 pounds.

“Do I look OK? I look in shape?” Harrison responded when asked about making bantamweight at a Q&A session before the UFC 299 ceremonial weigh-ins. “I’m coming for a UFC title, so f*cking come hell or high water, 135, here I come.”

As a gold medal-winning Olympic judoka in 2012 and 2016, Harrison competed at 172 pounds. After making the switch to MMA in 2018, she ruled the PFL’s lightweight division, winning two tournament championships. Since the UFC did away with its featherweight division, the only option for Harrison to compete was at 135 pounds.

“Well really, bantamweight became a reality, and is going to become a reality on April 12,” Harrison said. “It’s not something I had considered before, but I knew that, again, whatever contract I signed was going to be the last contract. This opportunity arose. I don’t want to look back on my life and say, ‘What if? What if? What if?'”

[lawrence-related id=2713667,2714022,2713853]

Harrison explained that she is fully “trusting the process” of working with multiple nutritionists and coaches to help ensure she will be prepared to step on the scale to hit the bantamweight limit. Part of that process means eliminating all of the comfort foods and sweets, at least until she does her job on the scale.

“Yes, it’s a sacrifice. Yes, it sucks,” Harrison said. “I miss pizza, I miss cookies, I miss brownies, but I do believe that UFC gold will be worth it.”

While the journey to the scale in April will be a daunting one, overall, Harrison is enjoying the days leading up to her UFC debut, as it reminds her of her days competing for gold medals.

“Honestly, it feels like the Olympics all over again,” Harrison said. “There’s a special electricity in the air. Like, I remember walking into the opening ceremony and feeling the heat of the Olympic torch on my face, and being like, ‘Oh no, this is real.’ And that’s how it feels for UFC 300. It’s special, and this is a big show, and I can’t wait.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Kyla Harrison rolls her eyes at mention of Cris Cyborg helping Holly Holm train for UFC 300

If her body language is any indication, it’s safe to say Kayla Harrison is now completely annoyed by Cris Cyborg.

MIAMI – If her body language is any indication, it’s safe to say [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] is now completely annoyed by [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag].

For almost two years, Harrison and Cyborg went back and forth calling each other out for a superfight while they were in PFL and Bellator, respectively. A path to a showdown was paved when PFL acquired Bellator late last year, but those plans changed after Harrison signed with the UFC.

Now Harrison is set to make her promotional debut as a bantamweight against former champion Holly Holm on April 13 at UFC 300 in Las Vegas. With about six weeks until UFC 300, who visited Jackson Wink MMA last month to help Holm with her training?

None other than Cyborg – who beat Holm in a UFC featherweight title fight back in December 2017.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C31pJQPMYyW/

When asked about this during a UFC 300 Q&A on Friday at Kaseya Center, Harrison immediately rolled her eyes before throwing some shade.

“Who?” Harrison said. “God, she just loves to stir the f*cking pot, doesn’t she? Go home already. Nobody cares.”

With Cyborg clearly in her rearview, Harrison, a two-time PFL lightweight champion and Olympic gold medalist in judo, can’t wait to get this UFC chapter of her career started. And she’s especially thrilled to be facing a “legend” like Holm.

“I don’t use the word ‘legend’ lightly, but I think Holly is very much a legend in the sport,” Harrison said. “(She’s) been in the top 10 for years now, been a former champ. I didn’t come over here to see how I can do and fight amongst everyone. I’m here to come over and win a UFC title and finish my career on top, so Holly’s a good start to that.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.