In an ideal world, Kayla Harrison wouldn’t battle at 135 kilos, but when that’s the one possibility she has to show she’s the very best fighter on the planet then she’ll proceed to make that sacrifice.
Forward of her upcoming title battle towards Julianna Peña at UFC 316, issues have been raised concerning the two-time Olympic champion making the bantamweight restrict after overtly discussing the difficulties she faces hitting that mark. Harrison’s longtime head coach at American High Group, Mike Brown, concedes that Harrison places her physique via torture to get right down to 135 kilos. Nonetheless, he’s not apprehensive about her instantly hitting a wall and never having the ability to make that weight.
“She’ll do no matter it takes,” Brown advised MMA Preventing. “She is as dedicated as any athlete comes and I imply one of many largest hurdles for her is the load. She would slightly battle at a bigger weight and I believe she’d be even higher at an even bigger weight however they don’t have it sadly.
“However she’s prepared to do no matter it takes to be the very best. If they need her to chop to 135, she’ll reduce to 135. If they need her to chop to 125, she’ll reduce to 125. She’ll do no matter it takes to indicate the world that she’s the very best.”
Throughout her rise to fame, Harrison primarily competed at 155 kilos within the PFL with solely two fights happening at decrease weights—as soon as in Invicta FC at 145 kilos and a catchweight bout towards UFC veteran Aspen Ladd at 150 kilos.
Since coming to the UFC, the now 34-year-old fighter has made 136 kilos on two separate events for non-title fights. For June 7, she has to chop the additional pound to make 135 on the dot.
Weight chopping is rarely a perfect scenario for any fighter however Brown is aware of Harrison goes to hit the mark for her title battle towards Peña and she or he’ll do it as many instances as essential to defend the belt as soon as she turns into champion.
“I imply it’s not simple however she will be able to do it,” Brown stated. “She will do it as many instances as she desires to do it. It’s simply self-discipline and altering your physique. Is it optimum? Possibly not however she’s prepared to sacrifice and make these modifications and she or he’s that good that she will be able to make it occur and beat whoever they put in entrance of her.”
A number of years in the past, the UFC launched a ladies’s featherweight division the place fighters like Cris Cyborg competed. Nevertheless, after Amanda Nunes retired because the final 145-pound champion, the load class ultimately went away.
If the UFC nonetheless employed featherweights, Brown believes that’s the place Harrison would battle, however that’s not an possibility so she’ll proceed to shed these further kilos to compete at bantamweight.
“I believe optimum can be 145 or one thing like this however she will be able to make any weight and she will be able to present the world what she’s able to and I believe she’s the very best feminine fighter on the planet,” Brown stated.
“The issue is that they don’t have [featherweight]. If they’d [145 pounds], she wouldn’t be combating 135. However as a result of they don’t have it, she has to. So she’s form of compelled into it.”
Whether or not it’s weight-cutting, combating via accidents or simply the adversity that fighters face within the cage, Brown guarantees Harrison is able to give every part she has to change into UFC champion.
As her first and solely head coach since she determined to transition from judo to MMA after capturing her second Olympic gold medal, Brown couldn’t be prouder to see Harrison lastly get the chance to indicate she’s the very best on this planet. For his or her group, UFC 316 can’t get right here quickly sufficient.
“She’s the very best on this planet. It’s time to indicate everyone,” Brown stated. “That is tremendous thrilling, I’m glad it’s lastly right here. We knew at the present time would come and it’s additionally just a little little bit of an additional pull when she began her profession with us.
“She began her coaching at [American Top Team] from zero fights to right here we’re 19 or 20 fights in and able to battle for a world title.”
