Previous to her arrival within the UFC, Kayla Harrison was champing on the bit to get her palms on Julianna Peña.
The dangerous blood between them initially escalated a couple of years again when Peña criticized Harrison for re-signing with the PFL — a alternative that was out of her management because of the promotion matching a contract provide in free company — and the two-time Olympic champion fired again a warning shot that fixed questions on a possible combat would to result in Peña getting “actually, critically harm.” The trash discuss ratcheted up as soon as they had been booked to combat at UFC 316 with Peña accusing Harrison of abusing steroids amongst different baseless claims throughout the mudslinging periods to advertise the occasion.
In the long run, Harrison received the final snigger after she snatched a fight-ending kimura within the second spherical that compelled Peña to faucet out, making Harrison the brand new UFC bantamweight champion. Moments after successful the belt, Harrison embraced Peña and so they shared a prayer collectively, which was a cathartic second that gave Harrison newfound perspective on one in all her most heated rivals.
“I undoubtedly stated that I wouldn’t be associates along with her however I feel I used to be incorrect,” Harrison informed MMA Preventing when addressing her emotions in direction of Peña. “I’m lady sufficient to confess once I’m incorrect, I say I’m incorrect.
“Sharing that prayer was actually highly effective. I simply wished to go pray for her however when she prayed for me, that was a extremely telling second for me. Like she’s a sportswoman. She offered this combat. She did what she needed to do and I respect that. Really, I had loads of enjoyable, too. It’s undoubtedly essentially the most trash discuss and essentially the most stress I’ve ever actually had in a combat and I loved that. I had enjoyable. I feel she’s cool. She’s legit. I’m cool with Julianna.”
Fact be informed, Harrison successfully let no matter animosity had constructed up between them expire as quickly as Peña tapped and she or he turned a UFC champion.
That was all the time her major purpose and Peña simply occurred to be the individual holding the belt when Harrison earned her title shot. If something, Harrison says she truly held Peña in excessive regard going into the combat and that compelled her to make some changes as soon as they had been truly within the cage collectively.
“I do suppose if I take something away from this combat, it’s to recollect who the ‘F’ I’m,” Harrison stated. “Not that I used to be listening to the surface noise however I used to be like, ‘Oh yeah, this lady beat Amanda [Nunes] and she or he’s going to tug me into deep waters and I’m going to should be good’ and naturally, all that’s true. She beat Amanda. She is hard as nails. Her recreation plan was to tug me into deep waters.
“However I’m one of the best fighter on the earth. I in all probability might have unleashed within the first spherical a bit bit extra however I used to be a bit bit hesitant. The primary spherical’s a sense out course of, what if she comes out swinging within the second spherical? Don’t get [impatient], take your time, decide your photographs. No, I’m one of the best fighter on the earth.”
Peña tapping out and Harrison turning into champion was nearly like an out-of-body expertise for the Ohio native as she ascended to her throne after promising for years she was greater than prepared to beat the competitors within the UFC.
Trying again now, Harrison can barely encapsulate that second as a result of all of it feels so surreal.
“I used to be overwhelmed with emotion,” Harrison stated. “You’re nearly holding your breath. You’re nearly sort of like don’t mess up, don’t mess up, be good. It was quick time, I heard the clapper, I used to be like I had the grip, it’s a place I’m actually snug in. I drill it with [Steve] Mocco and Mike [Brown] on a regular basis. It’s a submission I get fairly a bit in follow as effectively.
“Dude, I simply couldn’t imagine. I couldn’t imagine it. I couldn’t imagine that she tapped. I couldn’t imagine it was over. I couldn’t imagine I used to be UFC champion. It was overwhelming.”
Following the conclusion of the combat, Peña supplied her congratulations however then stated she would fortunately stick round to await the winner of Harrison’s anticipated combat towards Amanda Nunes, who’s popping out of retirement to return to the UFC.
Whereas something is feasible, Harrison doesn’t actually see a situation the place she stands throughout the cage from Peña once more however that’s not her making an attempt to crank up the dangerous blood. Harrison simply doesn’t presently see Peña as a possible choice once more whereas she’s champion.
“I imply I don’t suppose so,” Harrison stated. “Once more, not speaking crap. I feel she’s 2-2 in her final 4 or 3-3 in her final six, one thing like that. I feel she’s received to return to the drafting board and get some wins.
“There’s additionally an entire division, there’s loads of younger, hungry killers arising. We’ll see. I’ll combat whoever they need me to combat however in my coronary heart, I don’t suppose that we’ll combat once more.”
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