Kayla Harrison requests official backup role for Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Peña title fight at UFC 307

Despite not getting the title shot, Kayla Harrison still hopeful she’ll end up fighting for UFC gold in her next outing.

The two-time Olympic judo gold medalist and two-time PFL champion wants the UFC to consider her as the official backup for the upcoming women’s bantamweight championship fight between Raquel Pennington and Julianna Pena , which goes down on Oct. 5 in the co-main event of UFC 307.

“I wanted to fight for the belt, but it was promised that the next shot was to Julianna, so she gets the next shot for now, unless one of them gets hurt or sick, mommy is coming home,” Harrison told MMA Junkie at 2024 PFL Playoffs 2. “… Two hours’ notice, one-hour notice, 20 minutes’ notice, yeah.”

Harrison (17-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) also competes on UFC 307, as she takes on veteran Ketlen Vieira. If she doesn’t get the title fight in a backup role, she plans to make a statement with Vieira and let the world know who’s the best women’s bantamweight on the planet.

“I don’t necessarily agree with the decision, but if they want me to smash another skull, I’ll smash another skull,” Harrison said regarding her fight with Vieira. “I think Ketlen is good, but I’m at a different level from all of them.

“I’m going to go out on October 5 and prove that I’m at a different level and prove that Ketlen and the two girls who are fighting (for the belt) look ridiculous, and then everyone is going to know it’s time for Kayla to get her belt.”

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