American fighter Kayla Harrison, who is set to face UFC women's bantamweight champion Julianna Peña on June 8 in Newark, USA, admitted that struggling with weight cutting is quite challenging for her.
When I competed in judo, I competed at 78 kilos, which is 172 pounds. 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...
“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 every day on top of the two training sessions I do every day, 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 shared on social media.
Harrison's last fight was against Ketlen Vieira at UFC 307 in October 2024, where she won by unanimous decision after going the distance. Her record in mixed martial arts stands at 18 wins and one loss.
