UFC fighter Kayla Harrison (34) spoke openly in an interview about health problems before her last fight against Ketlen Vieira (33).
The American, who won Olympic gold in judo in 2012 and 2016, told TMZ: “I don’t like to look for excuses. I had to go to the hospital last week. I peed blood and there was something else going on. I don’t like to look for excuses, but I definitely wasn’t at my best in the cage on Saturday night.” She didn’t elaborate on the cause of her problems.
Harrison had won unanimously on points against the Brazilian Vieira, but her performance caused astonishment among fans and experts. Many had expected a much more dominant performance.
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A possible cause of Harrison’s problems could be her weight reduction to the bantamweight limit of 135 pounds (around 61 kilos). Harrison has fought at lightweight (155 pounds/70 kilograms) for most of her MMA career, but competes in the lower weight class in the UFC. Moving down from the lightweight class was not an easy task for the two-time Olympic champion.
“I need to take a little time off just because of the weight loss and the process my body is going through,” Harrison told TMZ.
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Many fighters struggle with weight cuts, but Harrison’s experience seems particularly tough. “I’m just not built to weigh 61 kilos. Whenever I get under 150 pounds, it’s not comfortable,” she explained.
Harrison is a two-time lightweight champion in the Professional Fighters League (PFL), but left the organization earlier this year to join the UFC. On her debut she defeated former champion Holly Holm (42).
With her win against Vieira, Harrison is now the number one contender for the bantamweight title from Julianna Pena (35).
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Those: X @basicwrestling07.10.2024
