Kayla Harrison placed on a strong if not spectacular efficiency at UFC 307, beating Ketlen Viera by way of unanimous choice within the opening match of the occasion’s pay-per-view.
Given the hype surrounding the two-time Olympic judo gold medalist, many anticipated Harrison to buzzsaw her manner by means of Viera like she did with Holly Holm. So it was one thing of a disappointment seeing her struggle and fail to hit the gear wanted to place her opponent away.
For her half, Viera clearly got here in with an excellent understanding of what was wanted to present Harrison suits. She stymied Kayla’s offense and managed to get a pair good licks in as nicely, bloodying the American High Crew product.
Following the bout, Harrison was blunt in her evaluation of the combat.
“It simply wasn’t the efficiency I hoped for,” she advised ESPN’s Megan Olivi. “I simply felt a little bit flat tonight. Couldn’t string some stuff collectively. A bit of bit pissed off with my efficiency. You understand, my group makes quite a lot of sacrifices. Everybody actually places in quite a lot of effort to ensure that me to to be right here. So I simply I really feel like I allow them to down a little bit bit.”
“It extra simply with the ability to simply kinda opening up and unleashing,” she mentioned on what wasn’t working. “For no matter purpose, I wasn’t in a position to do this tonight as a lot as I wish to. I do know I’m my very own harshest critic, however I’ve to be the perfect on my worst day.”
Harrison admitted the Salt Lake Metropolis altitude could have performed an element in a lull that led her to getting break up open by Viera.
“I actually didn’t suppose it was gonna [be an issue], however I feel within the second spherical, I don’t know if it was an adrenaline dump, if I used to be feeling a little bit little bit of nerves or what. However I positively didn’t really feel as sharp as I usually really feel. And it’s bizarre as a result of I’ve been feeling nice. We got here out early. I used to be feeling nice within the coaching.”
“Who is aware of? Perhaps I simply ate an excessive amount of at present. I don’t know.”
Regardless, Harrison is anticipated to combat for the ladies’s bantamweight title subsequent against new champ Juliana Pena. We count on that to go down within the subsequent six months, however Kayla was requested if she’d hypothetically wait a 12 months for Pena to be prepared.
“I’d combat,” she declared. “Once you’re the perfect on this planet, you’re the perfect on this planet. It doesn’t matter. I’m the uncrowned queen. If I’ve the belt, if I don’t have the belt, I’m nonetheless the perfect on this planet. So I’d combat. I don’t care who it’s. Fill within the clean. I imply that once I say it. I don’t suppose that there’s anyone on this planet that can beat me.”
