UFC 300 saw the highly anticipated debut of Kayla Harrison, who wasted no time in making her mark inside the octagon. Facing off against former bantamweight champion Holly Holm, Harrison showcased her dominance by securing a victory in just two rounds.
After a commanding performance in the first round, Harrison sealed the deal in the second with a rear-naked choke, marking her first triumph in the UFC.
In addition to her impressive performance, Harrison also silenced her critics and doubters who questioned her ability to succeed in the UFC. During the post-fight press conference, the two-time Olympic gold medalist expressed her desire for a shot at the title in her next bout.
Harrison’s statement on UFC champion
“Yeah, I mean the goal was to go out and make a statement and be so good that that’s what’s next [title shot]. I want to be UFC champion by the end of the year so I hope that I did enough tonight, to do that. I hope that I impressed the bosses and the matchmakers.”
Addressing a social media post by former champion Amanda Nunes, Harrison clarified why she did not specifically call Nunes out, stating that she believed Nunes was content in retirement.
“I didn’t call Amanda’s name because Amanda’s not the UFC champion. She retired. I thought she was happily retired. I would love to win a UFC title and if Amanda wants to come back, I’ll welcome her with open arms.”
Harrison and Nunes, who were once teammates at American Top Team before Nunes’s departure in 2022, have seen their relationship evolve into a rivalry despite never having faced each other in the octagon. Speaking on The MMA Hour, Harrison discussed her perspective on her relationship with Nunes.
“Amanda’s worst enemy is her own mind. She got it in her head that I was coming for her… She thought that everyone at the team was against her. Again, not true… And I have no ill will toward Amanda. She’s the GOAT for a reason. She’s awesome. I don’t think that the bad mouthing that she’s done about my team is fair or appropriate, and I don’t respect that, and I have personal beef with that, but other than that…”
If Nunes decides to come out of retirement, it could pave the way for a showdown between the two rivals inside the octagon.
