Kayla Harrison is willing to fight at UFC 303 on June 29 in Las Vegas.
But if the two-time Olympic gold medalist is going to rush back in less than three months, it needs to be for a division title. Raquel Pennington is reportedly injured, which is why Harrison is on board for an interim title fight opposite former 135-pound champion Julianna Pena.
The winner would likely move on to fight “Rocky” later this year.
“I heard that ‘Rocky’s’ hurt all of the sudden, so if she can’t fight right now, I’m happy to fight whoever, this summer, for a title,” Harrison (17-1) told The MMA Hour. “Why not just an interim title? Then I’ll unify it, then I’ll fight Amanda. If it’s for a title, I will make myself available [for June 29]. I would love [UFC 303]. F—k it, my time is now. I like the sound of [Harrison vs. Pena]. There would be some good sh*t talking from me.”
Is that fair to the rest of the bantamweight division? Depends on who you ask.
Harrison, 33, made her UFC debut at the UFC 300 event last weekend in Las Vegas, steamrolling former bantamweight champion Holly Holm with a second-round submission. As for Pena, 34, she’s remained inactive since a lopsided decision loss to the since-retired Amanda Nunes at UFC 277 back in summer 2022, thanks to a freak rib injury.
For complete UFC 300 results and LIVE play-by play click HERE.
