Ahead of her highly anticipated challenge for the women`s bantamweight title at UFC 316, facing Julianna Pena, two-time Olympic judo gold medalist and former PFL champion Kayla Harrison is attracting considerable attention regarding her ability to make the required 135-pound championship weight. This upcoming bout marks the first instance where she must hit the exact weight limit, having previously benefited from the one-pound allowance provided for non-title fights in her two UFC appearances.
Despite speculation and concern from many observers that the challenging weight cut could potentially impact her performance on fight night, Harrison remains confident and dismisses the worries. “I think it`s overblown,” she stated. Harrison emphasized her rigorous approach to preparation, highlighting her strong discipline and the support of her experienced team. She detailed their process, which includes meticulous tracking of body fat, calorie intake, and hydration levels, asserting, “I`m right on track.”
Harrison spent the majority of her successful career competing and dominating in the lightweight division (155 lbs), where she secured multiple PFL championships. Her move down to the bantamweight division (135 lbs) was primarily motivated by her long-held ambition to compete for a UFC title, especially following the discontinuation of the women`s featherweight division. While acknowledging the difficulty, Harrison sees the weight cut as a necessary sacrifice aligned with her career aspirations and the pursuit of a lasting legacy in combat sports.
She openly admitted that the process of cutting weight is “not fun,” “not enjoyable,” and certainly not her preferred method. However, she views this challenge as a vital part of her overall journey. Harrison frames the necessity of making 135 pounds as an opportunity for significant personal growth and enhanced discipline, contrasting it with her early Olympic career where strict nutritional discipline was not her primary focus – she famously mentioned winning gold while occasionally consuming comfort foods like “Pizza Rolls and Diet Coke and Oreos.” Ultimately, Harrison believes navigating this difficult cut is a crucial step in reaching the pinnacle of her sport.
