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UFC president Dana White is going to “eat his words,” according to a fighter.
Kayla Harrison is an undefeated 12-0 mixed martial artist who is currently a free agent. She last fought in October 2021 for the Professional Fighters League, winning her second tournament in the promotion and subsequently her second $1 million payday.
After spending her entire MMA career with the PFL, the two-time judoka Olympic gold medalist is now testing the market and is viewed by most as the hottest possible signing in the sport. But that’s not true of the UFC president.
GettyJudoka Kayla Harrison poses for a photo with her Olympic gold medal in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
Earlier this month, White told Yahoo Sports that Harrison “hasn’t fought anybody” and that reigning UFC featherweight and bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes could cause the first “death in MMA” if she fought one of Harrison’s previous opponents.
Well, Harrison is on a mission to prove White wrong. Recently speaking with MMA Fighting, Harrison gave her thoughts on the UFC president’s comments.
“Dana has said a lot of things before,” Harrison said via the outlet. “It’s my job. If I want to fight in the UFC someday, if I want to fight at featherweight for the UFC some day, then it’s my job to prove to him that I’m worth the investment and I’m worth the risk.
“All I can do is to continue to go out there and be so dominant and continue be so good that you can’t ignore me. I know that I’ll do that. He says a lot of stuff and I know that I’m going to make him eat his words and he’ll smile when he does it and it will be great. I’m not worried about it. That time is coming.”
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Harrison Credits White for ‘Basically’ Starting MMA
White has been at the forefront of MMA and the UFC for two decades, and Harrison recognizes that. She told MMA Fighting that she’ll “show” White that her place in the sport, at the top of women’s MMA, is undeniable as well.
“He’s great at his job,” Harrison said about White. “He freaking started the sport basically. So it’s like who am I to tell him how to do what he does best? I’m not going to sit here and say ‘oh he doesn’t know what he’s talking about, he’s this and he’s that, and he has no idea and I’m different.’ I’m just going to show him.
“Then he’ll see and then he’ll do what he does and it will be great. I’m not worried about it. I’m really not.”
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Harrison Has Finished 10 of Her 12 MMA Opponents
Not only has the Olympic gold medalist not tasted defeat, but she’s also taken out 10 of her 12 opponents. And she’s currently on a five-fight finishing streak.
Five of her victories have come via TKO and five by submission. Harrison holds notable victories over the likes of Taylor Guardado, Larissa Pacheco and Genah Fabian.
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Fighter on Dana White: ‘Going to Make Him Eat His Words’