Kayla Harrison willing to 'smash another skull' before UFC title shot

LAS VEGAS – Kayla Harrison is closing in on a UFC title shot.

Harrison (17-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) submitted former champion Holly Holm in her promotional debut at UFC 300 to position herself in title contention. But with bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington likely making her first title defense against Julianna Peña in fall, Harrison knows she needs to win one more fight before her shot at gold.

“That’s above my pay grade, my friend,” Harrison told MMA Junkie and other reporters Thursday on the UFC Hall of Fame red carpet. “We’ve got to talk to Hunter (Campbell) and Sean (Shelby) and Mick (Maynard) and Dana (White). I know that they have a good plan for me. I believe in this company, I believe in their vision, and if they need me to smash another skull before I smash one of their (Pennington or Peña’s) skulls, that’s fine.”

Whoever she gets matched up against next, Harrison thinks it makes sense to compete on the same card as the title fight.

“I would love that,” Harrison said. “I think that’s a good call, just in case one of them gets nervous.”

The two-time PFL champion was called out by Ailin Perez (10-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC), who defeated Joselyne Edwards at UFC 302 in June. Harrison is open to fighting her, too.

“I’ve heard that, too, the twerker, right? And a judo girl,” Harrison said. “I will fight both of them on the same night. I’ll fight anyone. I’m not saying no to anybody. Sometimes it’s just a little outrageous. I don’t really know what to say. I’m like, ‘You’re twerking,’ I don’t know how to handle this.”