Kayla Harrison is having to push her body to unprecedented lengths in her pursuit of a UFC championship.
Harrison (18-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has to make 135 pounds for the first time in her career when she challenges bantamweight champion Julianna Peña (11-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC) in the UFC 316 co-main event June 7 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
The former two-time Olympic gold medalist judoka and two-time PFL women’s lightweight champion is no stranger to a strenuous schedule. But in order to prove that she’s the best mixed martial artist, Harrison wants to do it under the UFC banner, and there’s a heavy price to pay.
“When I competed in judo, I competed at 78 kilos which is 172 pounds,” Harrison said on her Instagram. “Then when I moved to MMA, I competed at 155 pounds. When I signed with the UFC, the highest weight class they have for females is 135 pounds, and I naturally weigh about 165 pounds. It was a very tough choice for me. I don’t really believe in cutting weight. I don’t think it sends the right message to girls. I was always taught in judo if you want to win, you’ll win at whatever weight you compete at type thing.
“But this is the weight class that’s available to me. My goal has always been to be UFC champion. I’m not 20 years old anymore. I’m 34 years old, and I’m asking my body to do more than it’s ever done. I have to walk six miles everyday on top of the two training sessions I do everyday, and teach my kids. I have to surrender to God and just trust that he has a plan for me, and I just have to keep doing the next right thing. It’s one of the hardest things I’ve done in my career, for sure.”
Harrison has successfully made 136 pounds in her two octagon wins over former champion Holly Holm, and most recently Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307 this past October. However, Harrison admitted to peeing blood one week prior to her fight against Vieira, which caused plenty of concern on what she’s putting her body through.
