SUMMARY
- Dana White announced that Kayla Harrison will be facing Holly Holm at UFC 300.
- There was particular concern among the MMA community regarding her weight class, in which she will be making her debut.
UFC 300 just got stacked up with an unexpected debut for the women’s division. This would be former Professional Fighters League lightweight champion and Olympic Champion Kayla Harrison facing former UFC Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm. She has been a dominant force in the PFL and throughout her professional mixed martial arts career, having 16 wins and one defeat.
Harrison has been the face of the women’s division in the PFL, which is the arch-competitor for the UFC. Winning the Women’s Lightweight Championship twice in 2019 and 2021. This debut was anticipated and rumored for a long time, and it was finally announced by UFC president Dana White as the most historic card of the organization, UFC 300. Fans were excited for the debut and boost to the women’s division.
Breaking News: UFC has signed Kayla Harrison!#UFC300 Holly Holm vs Kayla Harrison pic.twitter.com/jQeLItwQmO
— danawhite (@danawhite) January 24, 2024
However, there was particular concern among the MMA community regarding the weight class in which the former PFL champion is making her debut. MMA fighters are already known to weight-cut a lot to reach the weight class, which gives them an advantage in strength and reach during the bout. This has often been seen as leading to detrimental health concerns for them.
Which weight classes has Kayla Harrison previously fought in?
Kayla Harrison has previously fought in two different weight classes. This would include the lightweight division, where she found much of her success at 155 lbs, having fought most of her career in that weight class. She also made her featherweight debut at 145 lbs early in her MMA career against Courtney King in Invicta FC 43, winning via TKO.
This has been her only fight at featherweight throughout her career. Her last bout would be at catchweight 150 lbs against featherweight Aspen Ladd at PFL 10, winning via unanimous decision. The bout was initially scheduled against Julia Budd, who had to be replaced due to contractual issues. This being said, her UFC debut would be at 135 lbs bantamweight, which is 20 lbs less than her usual fight weight.
Fans react to Kayla Harrison’s bantamweight debut
Although fans were excited to see Kayla Harrison make her UFC debut, many were concerned about the weight class in which she decided to make her debut. Many took it to social media to address the issue and concern about whether the former PFL fighter would be able to make such a drastic weight cut given her big build and higher natural weight.
One user commented, “can she make 35 ? So confused .. didn’t she have trouble making 45 ?” highlighting her last weight-cut struggle in a lower-weight class. Another shared, “135? Can she even make that” further adding to the concern. Others too were keen on highlighting the same issue, tweeting, “Wow can Kayla make Bantamweight?” and “Im putting my money on Holly, if Kayla can even make 135”.
This could be the UFC’s attempt to make a possible super fight between Kayla and UFC women’s division GOAT Amanda Nunes. Nunes has shared her interest in a return after her retirement at UFC 289. It could also be a setup for a title fight against newly crowned Bantamweight Champion Raquel Pennington if Harrison can make an impactful debut.
