MMA: Kayla Harrison open to dropping down to 145, but condemns weight cutting

A female Olympic medalist making her transition into MMA and then dominating in her fights, sounds familiar? A similar blueprint as former UFC bantamweight champ and women’s MMA pioneer Ronda Rousey. Harrison however has a gold compared to Rousey’s bronze and comes in at a whooping 20 pounds more than Rousey at 155 pounds.

However Harrison (2-0), currently competing under PFL banner understands the fact that there are not many women in the entire MMA community that could be called as a natural lightweight. Though she does not advocate weight cutting, Harrison believes she has to drop to 145 pounds. Harrison also hinted a probable fight against UFC featherweight champ Cris Cyborg somewhere down the line.

“First of all, I don’t believe in cutting weight,” Harrison said. “I think it’s terrible for your body, I think if you’re gonna win, you’re gonna win at whatever weight you compete at and I think it’s sending a bad message to young girls and young kids. I don’t want anyone, especially my niece or someone to think that to be thinner is to be better. I just don’t believe in that. You’re big, you’re strong, you’re powerful, that’s the message that I want to send.

“But I do realize that if I want to be considered the best in the world, I have to beat the best. And that person is at 145 pounds.”