Ex-Invicta FC champion and UFC featherweight title contender Megan Anderson doesn’t see Kayla Harrison replicating Amanda Nunes’ lengthy reign within the UFC — not at bantamweight, not less than.
The UFC has principally killed the 145-pound weight class following Nunes’ retirement, so Harrison, a two-time PFL light-weight champion, entered the promotion to compete at bantamweight. Harrison wanted a pair of wins over Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira to cement her place because the No. 1 contender for Julianna Peña, however Anderson wonders for a way lengthy will Harrison have the ability to make that weight.
“The caveat for me with Kayla is—and I stated this when it was introduced that she was going to drop to 135—simply because you can also make the load, doesn’t at all times imply you need to,” Anderson informed MMA Preventing. “For girls, these large weight cuts, hormonally, it’s not good. So even when she does go on the market, she dominates Julianna, or it’s a back-and-forth battle and she or he finally ends up turning into the champion, I don’t see her combating for an excessive amount of longer. It’s the toll on the physique, it’s the standard of life, you understand?
“I do know for a indisputable fact that that weight minimize is depressing for her. ‘Trigger I do know that 145 was depressing for me. It was laborious. the final 15 kilos was robust, the final 5 kilos was the worst. I do know it’s depressing for her. She’s going to begin making ready three months out for that weight minimize as a result of it’s so large for her. That’s my largest problem with Kayla. However she’s regarded nice to this point, and I positively assume it’s going to come back right down to who needs it extra. As a result of Julianna Peña, regardless of no matter unhealthy place she will get put in, regardless of what number of instances you hit her, regardless of what number of submission makes an attempt she will get in, she’s going to defend it. She’s going to discover a strategy to get out of it and she’s going to attempt to flip the tide. That’s championship mentality, and that’s what has obtained her so far to this point.”
The UFC has but to substantiate that Harrison might be subsequent for Peña and a date for the combat, however Anderson likes the matchup stylistically. Peña went 1-1 towards Nunes between 2021 and 2022 after which stayed out for 2 years, solely returning in October 2024 to defeat then-champion Raquel Pennington for the title.
“What I like about it’s how I really feel so many individuals rely out Julianna Peña as a result of she may not say a number of the appropriate issues that get individuals on her aspect,” Anderson stated. “However if you take a look at her, she may not have one of the best hanging, however she’s a canine. She Is in it for the 25 minutes. She won’t go away. I imply, take a look at that second Amanda Nunes combat. Amanda dropped her thrice simply in a single spherical, she didn’t go away. Julianna is so laborious to place away. Her jiu-jitsu was nice, and that’s clearly Kayla’s world is, the judo and the grappling after which that prime management.
“It may very well be they find yourself nullifying one another,” she continued. “I don’t see that. I see Kayla going out and having the ability to simply search for these takedowns. Nevertheless, you take a look at her final combat, Ketlen Vieira had some success defending these takedowns. If you understand what you’re in search of, it may very well be a better time for Peña to type of shut down that judo, however it’s going to come back right down to will.”
Anderson stated she would choose Nunes to beat Harrison “day by day” if the Brazilian returned to the game to face her former teammate, however doubts “The Lioness” ends her retirement to compete at 135 kilos. For now, Anderson expects Harrison to say UFC gold towards Peña.
“I’m in all probability going to lean Kayla Harrison’s aspect simply because I believe she has the marginally higher hanging,” Anderson stated. “I don’t assume both of them are superb on the toes. Clearly, they’re each nonetheless creating, however I believe Kayla has the crisper of the 2 hanging, and she or he blends that into her judo higher. I believe if she’s capable of type of make the most of that, get on prime, even when she’s not capable of end Peña, I believe if she’s capable of get on prime, do some floor and pound, I believe she will get the win.”
